A story from George Leonard, who ended his (excellent) book "Mastery" with this:
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"When Jigoro Kano, the founder of judo, was quite old and close to death, the story goes, he called his students around him and told them he wanted to be buried in his white belt. What a touching story, how humble of the world's highest-ranking judoist in his last days to ask for the emblem of a beginner!
But Kano's request, I eventually realized, was less humility than realism. At the moment of death, the ultimate transformation, we are all white belts. And if death makes beginners of us, so does life - again and again. In the master's secret mirror, even at the moment of highest renown and accomplishment, there is an image of the newest student in class, eager for knowledge, wiling to play the fool.
And for all who walk the path of mastery, however far that journey has progressed, Kano's request becomes a lingering question, an ever-new challenge:
Are you willing to wear your white belt?"
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If you're a coach (or aspiring one) who's willing to keep an open mind, my friend and frequent partner Tom Matzen is hosting a Masterclass next Monday where he's going to show how to grow your coaching business "without the grind".
You'll be exposed to some new ideas, and it's a three hour time investment, but it'll be worth it ... save your seat for it here:
Marc Mawhinney