Wrestling Blogs - Jim Harshaw


« older | newer »

How Your Wrestling Mentality Holds You Back

Jim Harshaw | Profile
November 11, 2009


Wrestling makes us mentally strong and independent. When our coach asks us to run through a wall we simply ask "Head first or shoulder first?" However, we tend to believe that we don't need any help when it comes to running our program. We can do it all ourselves. We did it as competitors and we'll do it as coaches- or CEO's- of our program. I can do it all. I NEED to do it all.

If you think of your program as a business executive thinks of his business then you will see that you shouldn't do it all. You probably have a to-do list a mile long and only get 60% of it done if you're lucky. THAT IS WHAT'S HOLDING YOU BACK. Where is your time best spent? What tasks can only you do? What tasks should only you do?

Running practices? Then spend your time developing the best practices possible!
Planning the season? Then develop a season plan and make sure your program is adhering to it on a daily, weekly and monthly basis.
Administrating? Then fill out the forms your admin wants in a timely manner!
Fund Raising? Then plan and implement it flawlessly.
Marketing? Then build a marketing plan, consult an expert and make a difference!
Recruiting? Then think about the best ways to do it, plan it out and get after it in a big way!

Is there a better way? Can someone else do some of these tasks? Sure, they may not do it as good as you do- in fact they won't do it as well as you do. Accept that and move on. The fact is that your program will be better off with you doing the tasks that YOU have to do.

I hear the excuse already... you don't have anyone to help. If you don't have an assistant then what about a manager, an intern, a teacher whose class needs a project, an alumnus, a booster, your wife, your kids, the annoying local die-hard wrestling fan that has been asking how he can help. It's only an obstacle and you're a wrestler- figure it out.

Or you can stay where you are, continue working hard instead of smart and operate at 60% capacity.



Post a Comment

Enter Your Name

or Login Here
Please enter this code to post comment. Login to skip Captcha.
captcha img
#9
Replica Watches   November 25 at 8:36pm
#8
Prattville High Wrestler   November 14 at 7:46pm
you need more blogs about dustin carter for people like me who look to him for inspiration, I myself have no feet and wrestle and people like him help me keep pushing through and working harder
reply  
#7
Jim Harshaw   November 13 at 12:28pm
....place an ad in the school paper for an intern to do the hands-on work of marketing.
Of course Riot helps with that as well as step 2-100
reply  
#6
KNEESWEEP   November 13 at 7:15am
STEP 1 IS ?
reply  
#5
Jim Harshaw   November 12 at 1:12pm
With Riot we grow attendance, increase media coverage and raise more money. We help you sell something worthwhile- sell your program, the student-athlete experience, the life lessons they learn, the camaraderie- people will buy into that more than they will cookie dough. Then ask them for money (not in exchange for stuff)
reply  
#4
Ted Smith   November 12 at 10:59am
any good fundraising ideas out there? I have been trying to put together a charity poker tournmanet in our community. I have met some roadblocks with regard to the legality of it, and the school program doesn't want to be associated with "gambling". I don't want to make the kids sell anything more. Everyone is tired of selling cookie dough.
reply  
#3
Coop   November 12 at 9:53am
And the godfather has spoken
reply  
#2
Johann Gerlach   November 12 at 2:38am
Great words Coach. I'm a brand new coach (HS) and am already going a mile a minute. Implementing the 1st parent/coach mtg to assist with this process. I'll hit the recruiting train by day and perfectly enough, lean on my asst some to work top and bottom at our evening practice. Great reminder to include all and ASK for help, then accept it as it comes! I need it, but I'm surely realizing I need to ask for it just the same. Ground up with a program, to in turn help the area grow with the sport!
reply  
#1
Kacey Michelsen   November 11 at 8:30pm
Right with you coach. Fortunately I am at a place where there are several coaches and we each do things differently and well. This is a good message to be getting out there though, especially because we can not afford to see any more programs die, or good coaches get burned out prematurely.
reply  

No Tags Yet.


5.0/5 (4 votes cast)