“If you want to know the road ahead, ask those who are coming back.”

This ancient Chinese proverb can help all of us as we pursue our goals and dreams.

Rather than doing what most people do, relying on trial and error... there is a better way: Ask. Be coachable.

Recently, I was talking with a Hall of Fame high school coach. I asked him how many local coaches had reached out for advice or offered to take him to lunch and pick his brain.

His answer? None!

Why?

Here’s my hunch: We all have insecurities, and those insecurities can cause us to put on a front that we know everything. We fear that asking for help will make us look incompetent or expose what we don’t know.

As a result, we miss the opportunity to accelerate our growth by learning from someone who has forgotten more than we may ever know.

On the other hand, those who are secure in themselves are more willing to ask questions, seek advice, and open themselves up to learning.

As a result, they grow.

Are you doing this in your field?

Are you relying on trial and error every day because you’re afraid to “look bad” or admit that you don’t know?

I think this is especially common in coaching, and I’ve fallen prey to it myself.

So, how do you become more coachable?

It starts with having the humility to admit that you don’t know everything and not being afraid to look "bad."

Think about dipping a closed fist into water. When you pull it out, how much water did you capture?

None.

But if you open your hand, cup it, and dip it into the water, you’ll be able to carry some with you.

The same is true of being teachable and coachable. Approach learning with an open mind. If your mind is closed from the beginning, you’ll stunt your growth in whatever field or arena you’re in.

“There’s a quicker way to gain the information experience provides, namely, ask somebody who already has it.” – John Wooden

 Easy Easy,

-Luke Falk

Happy Labor Day! See you next Monday!