Hall of Fame Induction was not the coolest part of my day!

Some of you might know that I was inducted to the Riverside County Hall of Fame this Past weekend.  I was inducted due to the sport (soccer) achievements in my career as well as being a good role model for the youth of the area.  It was a very cool walk down memory lane!  During the symbolic ceremony it was cool to receive a medal, remove tape that covered my name on a 7 foot bronze plaque (the 7' plaque was not dedicated soley to me, it had lots of other names on it.  I was not that good). 
    However, the coolest part of my day was watching 2 young ladies that I coached 16 years ago be inducted as well.  16 years ago, as a coach, is when I started learning what it meant to be a leader.  It is funny that the readings for this week were about not teaching the way we were taught, but teaching the way the youth will learn.  Trust me, this has value in sports as well.  I did not coach these young ladies the same way i was taught.  When I tried, it backfired.... so I changed my style.  And it obviously had some impact on these young ladies.
    As a leader I am more often prouder of the accomplishments of my staff/players/mentees than I am of the things I accomplished in life.  This could be a good indication of true leadership?  Maybe?  When advising my staff I find that my experiences simply lay a groundwork that we are able, together, to redefine and make sense for the current society/culture of the work we do.  I take my successes (but mostly my failures, pass it on and smile with pride when it turns into something bigger and better!  It is this young population that we need to learn from.  Share our lessons and watch what they do with it. Don't force our way upon them... AND WE might actually learn something!