“If you have [people] who will only come if they know there is a good road, I don’t want them. I want [people] who will come if there is no road at all.” -David Livingstone
I have started most of the last 25 years of my head coaching career by sharing the above quote with my teams.
This is the David Livingstone from the famous quote, “Dr. Livingstone, I presume?” Livingstone was a 19th Century medical missionary and explorer who is best known for his work and philanthropy in Africa.
I use this quote because it is a reminder to me, my staff, my players and my clients that whatever happened in the past no longer matters. We have a blank canvas, and it is our job to create a new story, picture, journey, etc. that only we can define. We cannot be defined by the good or the bad that has happened up to this point. We can only control what is in front of us. Whether you are a young coach or athlete or a seasoned professional or parent, I think we can all take something from this idea that no one is going to do it for us. We have to create our own path and destiny.
I hope you all take the time to reflect on the road you will build this year and where you want it to take you.
As I start my new journey back into the world of high school coaching and running by own business, I am loving every second that I get to continue to motivate, inspire and mentor young people. I am also finding that I am enjoying, more than ever, the motivation, inspiration and education I am getting right back from these tremendous student-athletes.
I am looking forward to working with you to build your student-athlete’s road to their future.
Enjoy this blog? Want to schedule a free 30-minute coaching assessment with Coach Rogers? You can do so here: https://www.significantcoaching.net/
Interested in Coach Rogers’ Book on College Recruiting? You can find it here: https://bit.ly/Matt-Rogers-Significant-Recruiting-Amazon
