E.L.I.T.E status isn’t easy, but it is possible for those willing to work for it.
I used to think that excellence lay only in an individual's efforts. But I quickly realized that children (and adults) are a sum of the 5 people closest to them. What does this mean, you ask? If the closet people around your children are full of excuses, complaints, hostility, low self-esteem, no work ethics, etc, kids will follow. Our kids watch the people around us and are always learning.
If our children are always watching our every move then we need to make sure that those moves are showing a good example. Kids learn more from watching us and how we deal with our own personal, educational, and work lives than they do from the direct lessons we teach them. Making sure we put effort into our lives, passions, relationships, and work is incredibly important and teaches balance in our own kid’s lives.
Now while I said children are the sum of the 5 people closest to them that does not mean we should forget about outside sources… or influences. Yes, I am talking about the influencers. Influencers have been around for as long as people have, but they have never been as massive as the digital age of social media.
It’s important to monitor who your child’s influencers are. When I was younger I wanted to so badly be just like Michael Jordan, I wore big baggy shorts, I chewed gum just like him, I wanted his shoes, and even to this day I still have a shaved head just like him. Check out the influencers your kids follow and talk to them about the importance of finding inspiring influencers. The world of influencers is much bigger now and we need to make sure that our kids know these people are being paid to sell to them. So helping them navigate the good and bad influencers is essential.
Excellence stems from having positive support and influence in our lives. These come from coaching, mentors, books, and family and friends. Surrounding your children with positive influences and intentional habits will eventually rub off on them. The examples around our aspiring young athletes foster that excellent environment that they are proud to be a part of. Worthy to talk about and committed to attending on a regular basis.
Excellence is contagious.. but so is mediocrity.
Let's choose wisely!
-Coach Ben
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