Rod Davis: New Year resolve...

And now for something different; I am not going to write about regattas or even sailing. Got a bigger fish to fry today. Today it is philosophy, a byproduct of coaching. I am hoping this will make a difference, even a small one, to your son or daughter. Or even yourself, because these lessons will always apply...

I recently got asked to give a speech for Auckland Grammar School's leavers' dinner, New Zealand's biggest public school. What I remember of speeches when you are 18 years old and leaving school is a lot of rah-rah stuff about the world being at your feet but very little of stuff that anyone could use.

There is a saying about coaching; it's more about people than the sport. The trick is you're not coaching sailing, you're coaching people. That means your role is not limited to the technical side of sailing, it is all encompassing. To get the best out of someone on the water, you need them to be at their best everywhere. Teach how and why, not what.

The speech went something like this:
Whenever a new class graduates or finishes school, there is a speech by some important or semi-important person who talks of the bright future and how you can be anything you want to be. What no one seems to tell you is: how. How are you going to grab this, oh so bright future, with both hands? Today I am going to give my best shot at making a difference for you by telling you HOW.

Come and join us TODAY!!!!!
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