Posts by Travis Wyckoff
The #1 Trait To Look For When Hiring
Have you ever played pin the tail on the donkey? It is really hard. You know the general direction of the donkey, but because you are blindfolded, you are extremely handicapped in your quest to get the tail on the donkey. A little like the hiring process. Question: If you had to pick three primary skills/attributes…
Read MoreWhat is the paradox of power and influence?
What is the paradox of power and influence? Influence When a person gets into the coaching profession, it is usually because they want to help develop and shape young people (usually because they were impacted by a coach along the way). As a coach gets started it is usually at a lower-level position. They are…
Read MoreWhat is fear doing to us?
Overview: A leader’s pace. Why such a fast pace? Fear, us, and the great paradox! Our inner life is burning up. We run so fast these days…too much to do and not enough time. Athletic departments are growing, recruiting is getting started earlier and earlier, mental health is at an all-time low, technology has actually created…
Read MoreHandling sub-standard behavior in your program
How do you handle sub-standard behavior from your athletes in your program? You will either build trust or destroy trust depending on how you handle these sub-standard behaviors. Last week I wrote about creating a great environment in your program. This stirred up several conversations around the topic of accountability and discipline. One coach said to me…“You…
Read MoreThe difference between elite and average environments
Having studied and observed programs at all levels, all over the country, I’m seeing one distinct difference in programs. Elite environments are built differently than average environments. Below is a list of comparisons between an elite environment and an average environment: Asking questions vs Giving answers Inspire vs Push Guide vs Drive Empower vs Force…
Read MoreOne simple discipline to help you maximize and grow in CLARITY!
Short post today. David Perell, entrepreneur and podcaster, tweeted the following statement several weeks ago, “Read to collect the dots, write to connect them”. If there has been one discipline in my life that has helped me more than any other over the last several years it has been writing. Writing has helped me organize and articulate my…
Read MoreIn case of an emergency, put your mask on first then…
Recently I have been thinking a lot about what we focus on and how that can impact us. My Thoughts The more we focus on ourselves the worse our mental health seems to be getting. Over the last 10-20 years it seems an increasing amount of content (books, podcast, articles) is devoted to loving ourselves and taking care…
Read MoreWhat does olive oil and personal growth have in common?
Transmutation: The action of changing; or the state of being changed into another form. “Grapes must be crushed to make wine. Diamonds form under pressure. Olives are pressed to release oil. Seeds grow in darkness. Whenever you feel crushed, under pressure, pressed, or in darkness, you’re in a powerful place of transformation/transmutation.” Delia I don’t…
Read MoreCan You Have Success on the Field/Court If You Don’t Have Elite Gifts?
What seems like a difference in talent often comes down to a difference in focus. Focus turns good performers into great performers. Two keys to focus are saying no to distractions and working on the same problem for an uncommonly long time. Both are simple but not easy.” – Farnam Street Blog I love this quote. High…
Read MoreOne Simple Exercise to Make You Feel Like Crud
For many, the summer is a time of recalibration. A time to read or listen to podcasts. A time to grow and learn. Input = Output So with this in mind, I thought it would be a good time to write about how our input equals output. I have seen several quotes getting at this…
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