Study Greatness, from Socrates to the Relentlessness of Kobe Bryant

"I cannot teach anybody anything. I can only make them think.” - Socrates

Coaches change lives. Want to change them only for the better. Look to the past to find future answers. 

Use the wisdom of Socrates' 'three filters' when passing along information. 

1) Is it true? Social media allows news to spread like wildfire. That applies equally to truth and lies. Our nature is to believe what we hear. President Reagan is known for his quote, "trust but verify." 

2) Is it kind? We've all responded disregarding the impact on others. Nobody wants to be considered mean-spirited, thoughtless, or cruel. Develop the skill to widen the space between listening and responding. Some people use the "24 hour rule" to avoid 'reflex', poorly thought out answers. 

3) Is it useful? That's a loaded question. Private information can harm people or groups in ways we don't know. 

Sometimes people must reveal true, unkind, and critical information. For example, during the Unabomber crime spree, family recognized 'unique' phrases in the Unabomber's manifesto. To stop additional deaths, Ted Kaczynski's brother David went to the authorities, leading to an arrest.  

Video is also known as the 'truth machine'. What people recall doesn't always mesh with what happened. The discomfort we feel when seeing ourselves make poor decisions or bad execution can depend on the spirit the corrections are offered. "Let's clean this up" carries a different tone than, "you're useless." 

Remember Socrates to communicate true, helpful, and kind messages. Resist the temptation to overshare. 

Lagniappe. Study greatness.