Get a coach

Do you think you're better than Tiger Woods?  Why do we stop getting coaching in our lives?  It could be because we think that once we're good at something, we're above coaching.  Or maybe our fragile ego feels that pointing out an area for improvement is the same as saying that we have failed by not being perfect.

Professional athletes are the absolute best in the world at what they do.  They are the best by so great a margin that we mere mortals cannot hope to ever compete at that level.  And yet, every single one of them has a coach.  Every one of them has someone to point out how they can improve.

Today I drove a couple hours to take a swim clinic for triathletes.  My first triathlon is less than 3 months away, and my swim is by far my weakest event, so I need some help.  Even though I know this, as I finished a lap and came up for the coach to give me feedback, I kind of didn't want to hear what he had to say.  Then I gave myself an internal slap (Michael Phelps has a coach, so shut your pie-hole, stupid ego), reminded myself of why I was there, and listened.

None of us is the best at what we do.  We all have room to improve.  An yet, few of us actively seek feedback from anyone to help us improve.  Imagine how much better we could be.  Imagine how much better you would feel about yourself after improving your job performance, or your golf swing, or your ability to discipline your kids.

Get a mentor.  Get a coach.  Join a discussion forum.  All of the best things in life require being uncomfortable for awhile.  Progress requires sacrifice.  So suck it up, shut down your ego, and let someone tell you how you can improve yourself.