After having the Pitt powerlifting team come train at Union fitness for a mini "seminar", Casey and I talked about the whole day. It's good to reflect on what we could do better. But also appreciate the opportunity to help them out. They were a great group and very receptive to what we had to say and teach. They asked questions. We answered to the best of our knowledge and from our experiences.
It's also an opportunity to reflect on those who taught you. Casey met Goggins, Donnie Thompson, and Louie through out his lifting career. Then ultimately met Dave and became part of Elitefts. As for me, I met Randy Scoates (owner of Idolmaker) who introduced me to the sport and it lead me to know Louie Simmons, Donnie T., Molly Edwards, Laura Phelps and Dave Tate. Then I was given the amazing opportunity to become part of Elitefts. And, within our team are influencers that help us become better coaches and lifters.
This made me realize the impact an interaction can be. One must ask questions to seek answers. But when it's time to be all ears, listen up.
This sends forth the message "live, learn, pass on."
I'm reading "The Tipping Point" by Malcolm Gladwell, slowly but surely, and it states that there are three characteristics to a tipping point:
1. Contagiousness
2. Little causes can have big effects
3. Change happens not gradually but at one dramatic moment
What if we never met those people? What if they were total dicks to us? Would we feel differently about the sport?
Our experiences with them have led us to do the same thing they did for us. Teach; support; and share knowledge and ideas. Contagiousness. Cause and effect. Change.
So when the time comes, be a Steve Goggins. Be a Dave Tate. Be a Laura Phelps. Be YOU and pass that along. You never know who you could impact or what you can create.
