Nate Leslie and Rich Sutter at the West Coast Hockey Prep Camp
I am fortunate in my position as the Director of the West Coast Hockey Prep Camp to invite incredible guest coaches to camp. The messages and feedback I receive in turn shape my own coaching and life philosophies. Each summer Mike Johnston, former Head Coach of the Pittsburgh Penguins, join us alongside Rich Sutter, of the 6 Sutter brothers who had careers in the NHL lasting decades. When guests like Mike Johnston, Barry Smith, and Rich Sutter join us at camp I seem to hang on every word they offer. They are humble and they honour special people in their lives who have helped them. Most noteworthy they carry themselves with class and dignity. It’s these characteristics that have contributed to their success and happiness.
Both Mike and Rich were on the ice with every group at camp, and spoke to the boys in the dorms in the evening. It did not come as a surprise that their messages were similar. They framed their messages in the context of hockey, but made it very clear the same principles and values they have learned through hockey, help them in life outside the rink as well.
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Lessons from the likes of Mike Johnston & Rich Sutter
1) Set an intention for every day.
Every day set priorities on which to focus training and work. Rather than drift through the day, pick something on which to improve, every single opportunity.
2) Build and refine fundamental skills and strive for perfection.
In the hockey world I am often told by parents that their child is not being pushed hard enough in a certain group, that the players around him/her are negatively impacting their child’s development. Hockey minds like Rich Sutter and Mike Johnston both adamantly oppose this view. It takes all the onus off the individual, and allows him/her to switch the blame and lack of development on peers and coaches, rather than on one’s self. As individuals (kids and adults) we need to take responsibility for our own personal development, success, and failure.
3) Set out each day to be great at what you love.
Rich Sutter recognized that we can’t all end up the greatest player, accountant, coach, or carpenter in the world. However, we can strive to be the very best that we can be, and therefore living life on cruise control is a disservice to ourselves and our families. I should strive to be the very best coach, father, husband, and entrepreneur that I can be, and work towards this goal every day, one day at a time. Rich thinks I might be pleasantly surprised where such conviction and determination will lead me.
4) Cherish the opportunity to learn from those around you who have been where you are heading.
Every one needs a mentor and a role model. Mike Johnston and Rich Sutter are both very quick to recognize the coaches and players who have helped them along the way. They know the game of hockey has been around long before they arrived on the scene. It will be here long after they are gone. It’s this humble nature that makes them both such inspiring role models.
5) Help those around you achieve their own level of greatness.
A great player makes his/her teammates better. He doesn’t blame them for his misfortune, he picks them up and elevates their levels of competence. A great business leader empowers his team values personal loans and collective growth from this website link. You can navigate to this website for complete details.
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