A teacher and an apprentice were scheduled to lead a discussion together for a large group of people. The teacher planned to lead it with the apprentice chiming in to supplement the lesson. But then the pandemic hit and moved every large gathering online and in front of a camera.
The apprentice did not have much experience in front of a camera. Every time it was his turn to speak he would stumble over his words and forget what he was going to say. They had to stop and restart, and stop and restart again. Over and over. No one complained, but the apprentice could feel the tension and pressure rising. He became rattled.
He tried harder to focus. He reviewed his notes, wrote down everything he wanted to say, and even tried to create a makeshift teleprompter.
Nothing worked.
More mistakes.
More do overs.
Everyone became more and more frustrated.
Then the teacher put his arm around the apprentice and secretly motioned to the camera operator to keep recording.
He assured the apprentice that he had all the time, bandwidth and battery life to perform the presentation to his liking. Then he prompted the apprentice to recall the time he first believed in the message they were sharing, the struggle he had been through in his life, and why their message was so important for everyone to hear. Without the fear and pressure of the camera, he became unhinged. He told stories with emotion and made a passionate plea to an unseen audience as if he was talking to his best friend in need.
When he had finished everything he wanted to say, the apprentice took a deep breath and slouched in his chair, wishing he could deliver the same performance when the camera was rolling. Then he looked towards the camera and was surprised to learn it had been recording the whole time.
After reviewing the tape, the apprentice was shocked and proud to see the person on camera speaking so convincingly. He never knew that person existed, how he came to be, or where to find him again.
When the spotlight is on you to perform at your best, it can melt even the most talented, courageous, and accomplished people. When you wade into uncharted territory, you can face an unfamiliar struggle.
When mistakes, losses, or failures accumulate, momentum seems to turn against us. It feels like our game – or life – is spiraling out of control. With all of our willpower we grip the reins tighter and focus harder to get back on track, but things only get worse. The whole thing starts caving in around is. The cause can only be one of two things: Either we are not capable or they are out to get us.
Neither of these is true of course.
But you have felt it. And your athletes have felt it too.
Our featured course, Catching Confetti, is the most tangible assist to athletes and coaches that we have served up yet. It will help you navigate the distractions standing in your way, dismantle the pressure that paralyzes you, and guide you on the path to becoming your own best coach.
This is the mission of CHAMPIONSHIFT.
Everything you need to own the spotlight, shine in the spotlight, and be the star you imagine is already inside you. It’s time to bring it to the surface and shine it on the world.