Tag Archive for: Motivation

Martin Bingisser

Remembering Jüri Tamm

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I remember the first time I saw video of Jüri Tamm throw the hammer. A big round man with a mustache and a fluffy head of hair lumbered into the ring. Compared to his compatriots Yuriy Sedykh and Sergey Litvinov, he seemed to move like a sloth through the circle. His feet flailed around as he completed three turns. It wasn’t the prettiest throw until the hammer left his hand and it flew. And kept flying. And kept flying. Tamm, who passed away on Thursday, set the world record and won two Olympic medals. His best mark is still among the top 10 all-time. Yet still, when I watch him throw, I can’t help but think: what did I just see?

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Andy Stone

Becoming a gardener coach

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The pandemic has caused coaches to reevaluate how they think about training. We’ve heard story after story about how the pandemic helped athletes reach new levels of performance. But what about the coaches? For many coaches, the pandemic has had the same effect.

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Vern Gambetta

What’s next?

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What’s next? The simple answer is: who knows? People are talking about a new normal, what does that mean? I think each of us needs a deeper understanding of what got us into this dilemma. Certainly, all this chaos and adversity can represent an opportunity. Whether or not it is an opportunity depends on each and every one of us looking deep within ourselves, to be the best we can be, to focus on love, peace and togetherness. It can be done; it has been done. Read more

Patrick McHugh

Staying fit in a pandemic: Vol. 16

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Monday my spring break is over and I am back to school, although it will be a remote school. Writing these pandemic posts and filming these exercises and circuits has been an enjoyable way for me to spend an unexpected two weeks of mostly home stay. Thanks to my helpers! Read more

Patrick McHugh

Staying fit in a pandemic: Vol. 10

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As I did last Sunday, I am posting some inspiration instead of a workout. I originally posted this John Gardner piece in 2013. These words always challenge me. Because life is often about renewal I occasionally repost this in the spring time. With the first day of spring 2020 last Thursday and folks around the country house bound, I am finding this essay to resonate more than ever. Read more

Martin Bingisser

Lessons on achieving impossible goals from The Dawn Wall

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Living in Switzerland means it is hard to avoid the mountains. The more I explore them, the more I am amazed by climbers. Some adventure sports are simply about who has the most courage. Climbing is about who is the most focused on their goals. I have never climbed a mountain or even gone bouldering, but as a spectator of the sport I am captivated by just how focused the best climbers are. While more often than not they fail, every time they succeed my jaw drops a little more. Read more

Martin Bingisser

Where corporate goal setting went wrong

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When it comes to goal-setting in the sporting world, everything is starting to look a bit more corporate. Talk of goals, aspirations, and dreams has been supplanted by detailed discussions on key performance indicators (KPIs), targets, and measurables. The field of play and the boardroom are starting to merge. Read more

Craig Pickering

Training doesn’t have to be crazy

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More it more it seems like we are surrounded by craziness, but it doesn’t have to be that way. I recently read It Doesn’t Have to Be Crazy at Work by Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson, the two founders of the project management software company Basecamp. The main point of the book is, as the title suggests, work doesn’t have to be, and indeed shouldn’t be, crazy. Read more

Martin Bingisser

GAINcast Episode 124: Making the champion’s choice

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Talent is a requirements to be a champion, but all talent gets you is a ticket to practice. Champions are made through their decisions. On this week’s episode, we look at making the champion’s choice with examples of the decisions champions have to make and the coach’s role in that process. Read more

Vern Gambetta

Notes (Advice) to My Younger Self

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This post is a result of reflections on turning seventy and as I continue the 49th year of my coaching journey. These are thoughts on what I could have done better or at least differently. They are the results of questions in the process of mentoring other coaches and raising my children. The questions usually are: What have you learned? What would do differently? Hopefully this will stimulate you to think and learn from my mistakes, missteps and an occasional success. Read more