I am convinced that if you want something bad enough, you have to roll up your sleeves, buckle up your chin strap and be prepared to scratch, claw and grind for every inch of greatness you can attain before it’s too late.  All athletic careers have expiration dates!  You have to be ALL IN! There is no “I think I’ll go play Nintendo today” or “I’ll just have Mom and Dad say I’m not feeling well”, or “I don’t feel like rehab today on my injury” at the elite level.  You’re either all in OR your all gone!  Recently “rare air” has been attained at DSC as three of our elite athletes have attained Championships at the International and National Levels respectively:  Lisa Chesson (USA Women’s National Hockey Team World Champion), Connor Murphy (USA World Junior Hockey Gold Medalist), and Keith Gavin (USA 84KG Freestyle Wrestling Champion).  To say that we are proud would be an understatement.  They embody what it means to be “ALL IN”.  Yes, they all have great genetics, BUT more importantly, they are “Everydayers”!  Their work ethic and drive matches their attitude and desire to get better, get stronger, listen to their bodies, rest, recover, regenerate, and attain “consistent greatness”.   Weather it’s focusing on lifting heavy weight, breathing patters, diet, rehabbing an injury or getting more sleep, they spend just as much time “working in” as they do “working out.”   Bottom line: they are prepared! 

We get asked quite frequently about recommended reading/resources for strength and conditioning professionals.  Below is a comprehensive list of recommended resources and several of the books/DVD's we make available to our Coach's and interns at Donskov Strength and Conditioning.  The items bolded are considered "must reads/watches" for our staff.

I vividly remember turning sixteen and getting my driver’s license.  Truth be told, I felt unprepared, uncomfortable and flat out scared behind the wheel for the first several months.  It took me years to get acclimated, feel comfortable and learn the intricacies of the road.  The “license” was just a piece of paper, not an advanced qualification, not trail and error experience, sweat equity, hours of sacrifice or deliberate practice.   The “license” did not allow me to drive motorcycles, eighteen-wheelers or commercial machinery.  In retrospect the “license” didn’t take much time to receive and certainly left me with many more experiences to gain other than the pages of a driver’s education handbook.  You may be asking, what does this have to do with Coaching?  Well, in this day and age of whom we consider “experts”, it has everything to do with Coaching! 

I vividly remember my father as a young child being very disciplined with my brothers and me.  No hats in the house, ALWAYS say “thank you”, address adults as “Mr.” or “Mrs.”, strict curfews and an appreciation for “grown ups” with many more years of experience and runway traveled.  I do remember questioning my Father in high school.  It seems my teenage years were spent trying to figure out why he was so “hard” on us, why little things mattered so much and why report cards had nothing to do with grades, but everything to do with work ethic, commitment and discipline.  As I’ve grown, these questions have been answered and it has made me who I am today.  His discipline was nothing more than love and a realization that there were consequences for my actions.

My older brother Misha has always been a mentor to me.  We share Coaching experiences, feedback and life lessons on a daily basis.  We also share “must reads” in terms of coaching education.  He recently suggested that I read Jon Gordon’s “The Energy Bus” and this book has reinforced why I continue to believe that beneath the confines of our gym lies something truly special!  Beyond the walls of DSC is an electrically charged machine!   An environment that reinforces team first, attitude, attention to detail, respect, adherence, care, concern, transformation, positive energy, and genuine smiles.  We preach to our youth athletes on a daily basis the importance of a positive attitude.  Below is a quick reflection from “The Energy Bus” that reinforces how important attitude is in life!