Anyway, partly as a result of the above I have been trying to make some progress on making sure GFS athletes stay healthy and strong in the future. Getting good support staff around my athletes has always been a high priority for me and it is disappointing to say that there are not that many world class experts that live in this part of the world to help my athletes. One who clearly is is my physio Vanessa Trent but sadly she is very likely to be moving out of town in the months ahead. This is a shame but totally understandable as she needs to look after the welfare of her family and children in particular.
Vanessa possesses skills that are world class. She is thorough and logical in her approach. She is well qualified and achieves results. What else do you need? Well to those I have been talking to in the last few days and to many more that I seem to continually come across in my daily existence....I would say you need an openness to learning. An openness to accept that you will never know all there is to know and to always listen to what someone else to say. If it is totally not what you believe then at least it should make you re-evaluate what you believe (which is always a good thing) and examine why do I not believe or agree with that person's point of view? On the converse that person may have something you have never even considered before and therefore it should get you excited that maybe you have a little more of the puzzle solved.
I wish I could say I meet people like this on a daily basis. I wish they were open to learning. To listening. To realising that maybe they don't know it all and to not being scared or intimidated when someone challenges their point of view or belief. This little country would be a far better place if we weren't so closed in our opinions and we sought the viewpoints from as many people as far and wide as we could.
I would certainly like to think that I try and keep myself open to learning, it was part of why I went and travelled the world in 2003 on a Prime Minister's Coaching Scholarship. To try and see what others were doing, to learn and to have more tools in my tool box. I try and keep this attitude alive and kicking on a daily basis. I like to think I am and will always be open to learning new things.
Maybe I should end this now. Enough ranting and raving. Maybe it is not worth the frustration that I feel that people are always wanting to go slower and take more time and not challenge the status quo. I find that so difficult to work with. Bugger.
