Shakespeare, Coaching, and Parenting "O Reason not the Need'

Spoken by Lear, Act 2, Scene 4

O, reason not the need! Our basest beggars
Are in the poorest thing superfluous.
Allow not nature more than nature needs,
Man’s life is cheap as beast’s. Thou art a lady:
If only to go warm were gorgeous,
Why, nature needs not what thou gorgeous wear’st
Which scarcely keeps thee warm. But, for true need-
You heavens, give me that patience, patience I need!
You see me here, you gods, a poor old man,
As full of grief as age; wretched in both.
If it be you that stirs these daughters’ hearts
Against their father, fool me not so much
To bear it tamely; touch me with noble anger,
And let not women’s weapons, water drops,
Stain my man’s cheeks! No, you unnatural hags!
I will have such revenges on you both
That all the world shall- I will do such things-
What they are yet, I know not; but they shall be
The terrors of the earth! You think I’ll weep.
No, I’ll not weep.
I have full cause of weeping, but this heart
Shall break into a hundred thousand flaws
Or ere I’ll weep. O fool, I shall go mad!

Coaching and parenting share similarities. Both instruct, refine, and hope. It goes well; it goes awry.

Basketball coach Don Meyer preaches that the height of coaching is mature simplicity. Understand and execute the simple both offensively and defensively and the results take care of themselves.

Mature simplicity is "dig, set, spike." 

Education changes behavior. Why study Shakespeare whose classic lesson may befuddle us or pass us by? The monologue by King Lear expounds upon power and loyalty. In many ways the coach's or parent's power depends on the fierce loyalty of players/children.

Invest the few minutes to hear Lear and the breakdown.  

A brief summary... be coachable, execute the plan not the man.