Ok.  So you've let go.  Nice work.  Before you grab on to mommy's leg again let's think....

1. What are the 3 tasks that I need to get done but rarely do.  They're important but not urgent (hint: marketing?)  Write them down.
2. Write one hundred times: "They will get done but maybe not as good as if I had done them and that's ok"
3. Ask people for help.  (start with your parents and alumni then try getting a business teacher to ask for an intern to help you)

When (not if) you are successful with this be sure to let me know how it went. 

Twitter: @jimharshaw
Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/riotsportsmarketing
 
photo credit: Joseph R

You're afraid to let go.  I know.  I was there once.  You're afraid to let go of everything that you control.  Maybe because if you ask someone else to do it then it won't get done.  Or it will be done to a lesser quality than you would have done it.  Or maybe they'll deep down you believe that someone else will get the credit.  

1)  If you're not letting go is the cause that things don't get done then guess who loses....

2)  Let go by placing it in someone elses caring hands.  They'll get it done.  Don't worry... it will be good enough.

3)  And yes, you'll still get the credit.

Let go.  You'll be glad you did. 

photo credit: _rufus

Our goal as coaches is to (should be to) provide an opportunity for our student-athletes to learn the lessons that will help us in life.  To provide the most opportunity and the best experiences it takes money.  Sometimes a little, sometimes a lot.  Whether you like to hear it or not, the more money you have the better opportunity and experiences you are able to offer your student-athletes.  Having the funds to develop your program is not the point of coaching but without funding there is no program.

I will again refer to the "Built to Last" quote by Jim Collins:

“Profit is like oxygen, food, water, and blood for the body; they are not the point of life but without them there is no life.” 

There is a well known business book titled "Built to Last" written by Jim Collins and Jerry Porras.  The subtitle is "Successful Habits of Visionary Companies"  The subtitle could easily be "Successful Habits of Visionary Sports Programs".  There is one quote in this book on which I want to focus. 

“Profit is like oxygen, food, water, and blood for the body; they are not the point of life but without them there is no life.” 

We coaches tend to focus solely on the day-to-day with fundraising as an afterthought.  We do the fundraising equivalent of "get rich quick schemes" by selling cookies or coupon books or a multitude of other products.  While those solve a short-term problem of getting cash in the bank quickly (albeit with a lot of hard work), they fail to add any other building block to our program- like building a stronger community around our program.  We need to focus on fundraising as do successful programs- lets look at our successful universities or successful non-profits.  Do they sell cookies?  No.  They cultivate their supporters, fans, alumni and prospective supporters.  They do this through different forms of marketing.

Then, they ask them for money.  No cookies involved. 

This kind of fundraising is hard work too.  It is also building to last.  It's effects are cumulative.

What steps can you take today to build to last?

Wrestling makes us mentally strong and independent.  When our coach asks us to run through a wall we simply ask "Head first or shoulder first?"  However, we tend to believe that we don't need any help when it comes to running our program.  We can do it all ourselves.  We did it as competitors and we'll do it as coaches- or CEO's- of our program.  I can do it all. I NEED to do it all.

If you think of your program as a business executive thinks of his business then you will see that you shouldn't do it all.  You probably have a to-do list a mile long and only get 60% of it done if you're lucky.  THAT IS WHAT'S HOLDING YOU BACK.   Where is your time best spent?  What tasks can only you do?  What tasks should only you do? 

Running practices?  Then spend your time developing the best practices possible!
Planning the season?  Then develop a season plan and make sure your program is adhering to it on a daily, weekly and monthly basis.
Administrating? Then fill out the forms your admin wants in a timely manner!
Fund Raising?  Then plan and implement it flawlessly.
Marketing?  Then build a marketing plan, consult an expert and make a difference!
Recruiting?  Then think about the best ways to do it, plan it out and get after it in a big way!

Is there a better way?  Can someone else do some of these tasks?  Sure, they may not do it as good as you do- in fact they won't do it as well as you do.  Accept that and move on.  The fact is that your program will be better off with you doing the tasks that YOU have to do. 

I hear the excuse already...  you don't have anyone to help. If you don't have an assistant then what about a manager, an intern, a teacher whose class needs a project, an alumnus, a booster, your wife, your kids, the annoying local die-hard wrestling fan that has been asking how he can help.  It's only an obstacle and you're a wrestler- figure it out.

Or you can stay where you are, continue working hard instead of smart and operate at 60% capacity. 

"With great power comes great responsibility" Stan Lee, creator of Spiderman

In practical terms what does that mean to you and I?  Well, if you're the coach then you hold the reins to your program- not just teaching single legs and double legs.  But being the leader of your alumni, your fan base, your athletes, your parents.  How do you lead them?  You lead best by serving. 

A few weeks ago our pastor talked about how the Roman soldiers used to be able to basically comandeer citizens to carry their heavy hear- sword, shield, etc. for one mile.  During that mile the soldier is in charge.  At the end of that mile he would take the gear back and continue on his way.  What if the citizen said, "No, I will continue to carry your gear for another mile."  Who is in charge that second mile?  
Exactly.  You become a leader by serving. 
Serve your people. 

Make it easy for them to be a fan.  Create a Facebook page.  Create a blog.  Add video content to your page.  Send press releases regularly to the media.  Create fun and exciting events to bring them together.

What's that?  You're too busy already?   Well, yes.  I know.  Coaching is more time consuming and difficult than anyone outside the profession will ever know (except the spouses).  That's why you need systems to grow.  Just like any successful business.  It's not run by the seat of the owner's pants.  It's run by systems.  That's why the Riot is so successful.  It's built on systems.