It's almost that special time of year again: hockey season. 

I'm a big Toronto Maple Leafs fan, but there haven't been many good years for the Leafs since they last won Lord Stanley's cup way back in '67. 

I remember wearing a Leafs coat and hat in elementary school in the 80's, and getting teased for liking "The Maple Laughs", as they were known back then (they were awful, and the goaltending couldn't stop a beach ball). 

Yet I started every fall with the hope that there would be a miracle that year, and somehow my team would defy the odds and start winning. 

There were rare bright spots over the years, but they were few and far between. 

But now, things are different. 

Toronto finally has a good, young team with a crop of exciting players.  Not to jinx them, but they have a shot at winning the Stanley Cup in the next five years with the players that they have. 

Now what does this have to do with coaching?  

Part of your responsibility as a coach is to keep the hope alive in your clients, just like I kept the fire burning for my Leafs. 

You're there to let them know that they can achieve whatever they want, even if everyone else in their lives are telling them that they can't. 

You're there to pick them up on those days that they're having doubts, and are ready to quit. 

You're in their corner. 

In his book Supercoach, Michael Neill explains "The Lamppost Theory".  The theory is that humans would gain benefit from opening up and talking to an inanimate object, like a lamppost.  If someone left the office at supper, and went to talk it out with that post for an hour, it would help him a lot! 

So if talking with an object can help people that much, imagine what working with a caring coach like yourself can do for them?

If you need someone who believes in you in your corner, my next 10 Clients In 90 Days group program is starts soon - and there are a few spots left. 

Let's work directly together for 12 weeks to get your coaching business rolling. Get the details here: 

Marc "Go Leafs Go" Mawhinney