So, how did you do? Yeah, I know you didn’t do it.
Why?
The other day I got to work with a group of post-Grad athletes. These are guys with aspirations of playing at NCAA Division I schools, and beyond! So, when I asked them the same question, they gave me the same response…
Nothing.
Most of you know this as your “elevator pitch!” Suppose you step into an elevator and find yourself with the exact person you want to work with/for. You have roughly the length of that elevator ride to leave a lasting impression.
What would you say?
For young athletes, I ask them to picture themselves being approached by a college coach after a game. He congratulates them on their game, and then asks…
“Tell me about yourself.”
It seems simple enough, but why is it so hard? When I explained this exercise to the players and then asked for a volunteer to go first, no one got up.
Let me remind you. These were 18 and 19 year old competitive athletes accustomed to standing on the field in pressure situations and performing.
Yet, when asked to stand up in front of their teammates and talk about themselves…
(crickets)
No matter the level, if you are approached by a coach or scout – do you know how to talk about yourself?
And what is the question behind that question, “Tell me about yourself?”
What the coach is really asking and wanting to find out, “Can I trust you?”
Can I trust you to be a member of this team?
Can I trust you to get along with the other players?
Can I trust you to get back up when you’ve been knocked down?
Can I trust your character and work ethic?
Can I trust you with the $140,000 that equals the average college full-ride scholarship?
As a coach I don’t want to know how good you are.
I have already seen that and watched you – or I wouldn’t be talking to you.
I want to know what is important to you. I want to know about your family. I want to know about your interests outside of sports. I want to know what inspires you. I want to know about a time you faced adversity and how you overcame it?
I want to know your WHY?
WHY? What?
Your “why” is your motivation. Beyond just “being fun,” it is the reason you play the game.
Perhaps it is because it is the first time you really felt passionate about something, or maybe it’s a connection to a parent, or it is your sanctuary for escaping from life’s problems?
Whatever it is, it needs to get to the core of who you are as a person.
What is your WHY? Post in the comments below… Article By:
Travis Thomas is a Performance Coach and Founder of “Live Yes, And” Coaching and Consulting. Travis was a Leadership Coach for over 2 years at IMG Academy and now serves as the Performance Specialist for a youth soccer club in south Florida. He has been a professional improvisational actor for over 17 years bringing the principles of improvisation into his teaching and speaking. His first book, “3 Words for Getting Unstuck: Live Yes, And” is available on Amazon Kindle www.liveyesand.com
Travis Thomas is a Performance Coach and Founder of “Live Yes, And” Coaching and Consulting. Travis was a Leadership Coach for over 2 years at IMG Academy and now serves as the Performance Specialist for a youth soccer club in south Florida. He has been a professional improvisational actor for over 17 years bringing the principles of improvisation into his teaching and speaking. His first book, “3 Words for Getting Unstuck: Live Yes, And” is available on Amazon Kindle
