Cael Sanderson.
I talk a lot about “being about it.” Living it.
This past weekend at the NCAA Wrestling Championships, Cael led the Penn State wrestling team to a team title and an incredible 5 individual titles (there are only 10 weight classes!).
The buzz throughout the weekend was, “What is Cael doing at PSU that is creating such domination?”
One word that came to the surface is simple, fun. He makes it fun. From his own wrestlers, to competing coaches, they all seemed to agree on that fact. Useful takeaway for us? Have fun. Show that fun to others.
What I’m more fascinated with, however, isn’t what he’s necessarily doing as a coach specifically, but what he does as a person. The man emanates excellence, humility, curiosity. He lives it.
Every one of his wrestlers said essentially the same thing: They talked about having fun, relaxing out there and just wrestling. They talked about values as people. And they also talked about seeing Cael as a sort of father figure, or far off role model they want to emulate.
What can we learn from Cael and the PSU wrestling experience that we can apply to our own lives?
Here are a few bullet points:
- Have fun.
- Keep things simple.
- Be a good person.
- Live your life such that you inspire others to excel simply by being in your presence.
Heck, I’m better just by watching him on TV this past weekend!
In today’s AM Excellence, I dive into the importance of communication and how we can all become better coaches (whether that means as a parent, employee, boss, or on the actual playing field).
Listen to AM Excellence 181 “Coaching and Communicating” here.
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About the author : cbrenneman
Three days after the birth of his second child, The Spaniard discusses Fathership (a Spaniard term): his gratitude, his hopes, his plans, and how little he and his wife are sleeping. What does this mean for you? The tale involving Sheetz will make you think about the power of example. The discussion of summer camp and iffy acquaintances will help you watch for good and bad influences. The story in the hospital will alert you to opportunities to make simple, difficult decisions for growth. Whatever your relationship to parenting—past, present, future, never—there are thoughts here to help you put your arms around what matters most to you. Also: The three inspirations for the new baby’s name!
Three days after the birth of his second child, The Spaniard discusses Fathership (a Spaniard term): his gratitude, his hopes, his plans, and how little he and his wife are sleeping. What does this mean for you? The tale involving Sheetz will make you think about the power of example. The discussion of summer camp and iffy acquaintances will help you watch for good and bad influences. The story in the hospital will alert you to opportunities to make simple, difficult decisions for growth. Whatever your relationship to parenting—past, present, future, never—there are thoughts here to help you put your arms around what matters most to you. Also: The three inspirations for the new baby’s name!
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It’s host versus co-host. The Spaniard finds competition essential while Dread questions that. The Spaniard gives a wrestler’s and fighter’s appreciation of flesh-and-blood opponents: how they have shaped him, how they have often obsessed him, and how he sometimes has to search for their equivalents. The conversation highlights how competitors personify high standards and how the highest performance might require a winner and a loser. Also: Will baby Rocky let The Spaniard work out?
It’s host versus co-host. The Spaniard finds competition essential while Dread questions that. The Spaniard gives a wrestler’s and fighter’s appreciation of flesh-and-blood opponents: how they have shaped him, how they have often obsessed him, and how he sometimes has to search for their equivalents. The conversation highlights how competitors personify high standards and how the highest performance might require a winner and a loser. Also: Will baby Rocky let The Spaniard work out?
It’s host versus co-host. The Spaniard finds competition essential while Dread questions that. The Spaniard gives a wrestler’s and fighter’s appreciation of flesh-and-blood opponents: how they have shaped him, how they have often obsessed him, and how he sometimes has to search for their equivalents. The conversation highlights how competitors personify high standards and how the highest performance might require a winner and a loser. Also: Will baby Rocky let The Spaniard work out?
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