Every year come August 30th, I have the unique opportunity to reflect on a life changing meeting I had six years ago. As I read through my notes and the accompanying journal experience afterward, those thoughts and feelings I had while boarding a plane, tossing and turning through the night with nerves, and navigating through Los Angeles traffic came back to life. This journey led me to the office of Hall of Fame Basketball Coach, George Raveling. Now I just call him Coach. He’s my friend, my mentor and an educator. He’s my reference, my pen pal and my teacher. He inspired the development of Coach To Lead. He inspired my choice to accept my coaching calling. He’s inspired me to become a better leader of myself and of those around me.

He asked me what my 5 year plan was that day. Being 6 years removed from the conversation, I’ve enjoyed looking back at how that plan has worked, failed and been amplified into more than I ever thought all at the same time. This comes from a place of gratitude.

I recently started to plan a trip to Minnesota, where my mom is from. I found the dates that allowed for us to attend a Vikings game and a Timberwolves game. As we nail down the many details and plans, I was reminded of a conversation I had with Coach Rav. He said, “we spend more time planning trips than we do planning our lives.” Imagine if we had the amount of detail in planning our life as we do when taking a trip. One thing I have learned from another mentor, Phil Beckner, is that “high clarity = high performance.” Be clear. Be concise. Determine what you really want and tell people about it. I was recently challenged by Phil in our mentorship meeting to tell people what I want. That has led to life changing opportunities, some of which are to come.

I’ve shared these in the past, but I think they are worth re-sharing again. 

Here are some thought provoking and inspiring questions Coach Rav asked me. I encourage you to ask yourself the same questions.

• What’s most important to me right now?
• What do you really want to do with your life?
• What are you willing to sacrifice?
• How do I get above average?
• Who can help me see what I don’t see?
• What do I need to know? What don’t I know?
• How will I acquire unique knowledge to set myself apart?
• Who do I listen to?
• Where, when, and how do I want to get there?
• Is success material to me?

Here’s some advice Coach Rav shared. He taught me to continually pursue and acquire knowledge, particularly through books.

• Secure transferrable skills (communication, leadership, problem solving) – pick a skill and study everything you can about it for a year
• Create a 5-year plan and take smart risks to make it happen
• Make adjustments to your plan, just like you would if coaching a game
• Be simplistic and realistic
• Never take a job for the money, take it for the opportunity
• If you’re as good as you think you are, you’ll get paid
• Growth habits leads you to a destination
• Be committed and disciplined to your plan
• Once you commit, walk the walk
• Surround yourself with amazingly intelligent people
• Build good habits to grow – They’ll compete against your other interests
• Commit to growth and success – acquire and master skills
• Be authentic because you’ll be more relatable
• Sustain success, learn lessons, fortify experience
• Hold yourself accountable to the responsibility you have to be yourself
• Lead yourself – If you can’t lead yourself you can’t lead someone else
• Control what you can control, particularly how you think
• Take charge of your life and you’ll be more productive
• Validate yourself or you won’t be who you really are

I had decided to make Coach Rav a mentor of mine before I met him. When I was able to meet him face to face, he made the comment that he had mentors that he had never met in person. Coach inspired me that day like he’s inspired so many before me. My hope is you’ll leave feeling inspired as well.

“If there’s going to be a positive difference in my life, I have to initiate it.” Coach George Raveling