8 minute read
Harvey Mackay
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Pat Riley, president of the Miami Heat and a long-time highly successful NBA coach, used to ask his players “Are you F.A.T.?” F.A.T. was an acronym he created that was short for “faithful, available and teachable.” Riley was always on the lookout for players who would make sacrifices to make his teams better. He wanted people who were reliable and would do whatever it took to win games. But he was most interested in making sure his players were coachable.
Are YOU coachable? We’d all like to think we are, but it often means swallowing our pride and changing the way we think or act. Yet it’s hard to be successful if we are not coachable.
People who are coachable want more. They want to learn as much as they can. They realize they are in school for a lifetime and their education is an investment, never an expense. They know that they don’t know everything and are aware of their strengths, weaknesses, values and habits. They have high self-esteem.
Basketball superstar Michael Jordan said, “My best skill was that I was coachable. I was a sponge and aggressive to learn.”
Another trait of coachable people is curiosity. They ask lots of questions and try to learn something new every day. They might read a book on a topic they’ve never studied or watch a webinar instead of another rerun. Or listen to a TEDtalk. They might do something that they’ve never done before, just for the experience. They realize the future belongs to the curious.
Coachable people embrace change and look for better ways to do things. They seek out best practices. Change, for most people, is an unnerving experience. But change is inevitable. It’s one of the only constants in life.
People who are coachable are willing to try new things and are not afraid to make mistakes. And they don’t make excuses. They are action-oriented and get things done. The person who wants to do something finds a way; the person who doesn't finds an excuse.
Coachable people are good listeners. They hear what people are saying because they spend twice as much time listening as talking, which is why we were born with two ears but only one mouth. They value lessons from others with greater experience.
They seek insights and perspectives from others and pursue mentors. They realize a mentor can help even experienced people boost their job performance and advance their careers. None of us is as smart as all of us. I figure two perspectives are better than one and five are better than four.
Listening to advice or criticism is not always easy. However, coachable people are open and receptive to receiving feedback, which provides them an opportunity to improve. They aren’t afraid to adjust their thinking to improve their results.
Accountability for their actions is a common attribute among the coachable. They own their decisions because they try to do the right thing even when it is not the easy thing. They accept the blame for their actions when necessary as well as the credit when it is deserved.
Coachable people are willing to put ego aside. Coachable people are humble. They
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know what humorist Will Rogers meant when he said, “Get someone else to blow your horn and the sound will carry twice as far.”
Coachable people are positive. The glass is half full, not half empty. Thinking positive has no negative. A positive mind anticipates happiness, joy, health and success. Whatever the mind expects, it finds.
And here’s one you might not expect: coachable people are willing to learn at every age. Coaching is not just for the new kid on the block or the most recent hire. I’ve had very useful coaching from some of my younger colleagues who share their insights on current culture and developing technologies. I welcome their advice.
One of my favorite aphorisms goes like this: Watch your thoughts; they become words. Watch your words; they become actions. Watch your actions; they become habits. Watch your habits; they become character. Watch your character; it becomes your destiny.
This gives you a choice: a positive or negative path. Clearly, the positive path will lead to a more rewarding, more contented life.
Mackay’s Moral: The capacity to learn is a gift. The ability to learn is a skill. The willingness to learn is a choice.
Reprinted with permission from nationally syndicated columnist Harvey Mackay, author of the New York Times #1 bestseller “Swim With The Sharks Without Being Eaten Alive,” “We Got Fired!...And It’s the Best Thing That Ever Happened to Us,” “The Mackay MBA of Selling in the Real World,” and “Use Your Head To Get Your Foot In The Door.”
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Upcoming Events
FRIDAY, JANUARY 21 • Fish Fry from 5-8 p.m. at the Melrose American Legion. SATURDAY, JANUARY 22 • Ice Crush 2022 Winter Demo Derby at 2 p.m. at the Todd County Fair Grounds. See ad on page 7. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 1 • Freeport Lions Club American Red Cross Blood Drive from 1-7 p.m. at the Freeport Community Center.
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 2 • Jam Session & Potluck starting at 1 p.m. at the Village View Apartments, Grey Eagle.
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 6 • Brian Lange Family Benefit Breakfast & Silent Auction from 9 a.m.-noon at the Upsala Rec. Building.
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 19 • Valentine's Banquet starting at 6 p.m. at Word of Life Free Lutheran Church, Upsala.
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 26 • Sobieski & Swanville Lions Club 29th Annual Fishing Contest starts at noon on Long Lake, Swanville. ALBANY TOWNSHIP • Meets the fourth Monday of the month at 7:30 p.m. at the Albany City Hall. • Planning Commission meets the second Tuesday of the month at 7:30 p.m. at the Albany City Hall.
BURNHAMVILLE TOWNSHIP • Meets the last Tuesday of the month at 7 p.m. at the Burtrum City Hall. BURTRUM CITY COUNCIL • Meets the first Monday of the month at 7 p.m.
FEET FIRST CLINIC • Meets the 1st Tuesday of the month from 9 a.m.-12 p.m. at Holdingford City Hall. FOOD DISTRIBUTION • Ruby’s Pantry Food Distribution first Saturday of the Month from 10-11 a.m. at River of Live Church, Sauk Centre.
FREEPORT SENIOR MEETING • Meets the third Thursday of the month at 1:30 p.m. with cards/Bingo/coffee/dessert.
GREY EAGLE CITY COUNCIL • Meets the second Tuesday of the month at 7 p.m. GREY EAGLE TOWNSHIP • Meets the first Monday of the month at 8 p.m.
MELROSE VFW #7050 POST/AUX. • Meets the firstTuesday of the month at 7:30 p.m. at the Melrose American Legion Clubrooms. STEARNS CO. HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY • Meets at 7 p.m. on the 2nd Monday of the month at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, Albany. SUNSHINE CLUB • Meets every Monday, weigh in starts at 8; meeting at 8:30 a.m. at the Village View Apartments, Grey Eagle. ST. ROSA CITY COUNCIL • Meets the third Monday of the month at 7 p.m. at the Community Park building.
SWANVILLE CITY COUNCIL • First Tuesday after the first Monday of the month at 7 p.m. SWANVILLE TOWNSHIP • Meets the second Tuesday of the month at 8:30 p.m. at the Swanville Fire Hall.
TODD COUNTY REPUBLICANS • Meets second Thursday of the month at 7 p.m. at St. Matthew’s Church, Clarissa. UPSALA CITY COUNCIL • Meets the first Monday of the month at 7 p.m.
If you have an upcoming event or meeting, please let us know by email: htnews@icloud.com or call 320-285-2323.
Temperatures
Date High Low 1/12 34 18 1/13 30 18 1/14 18 3 1/15 10 -17 1/16 32 10 1/17 32 12 1/18 37 5
