Pivot Points
The breeze blew into the 2009 Ford Explorer off Lake Huron on a perfect August morning…
The flags were flying, birds were chirping, and the sun was reflecting on the calm blue water of the Great Lake.
It was a great morning for a paddle surf or some yoga on the beach…
But I was supposed to be at the rink…
I asked my Dad to pull the car over on the way because I thought I was going to get sick. The beach parking lot just happened to be the spot.
That calm environment outside of the car was a complete inversion of what was going on inside…
I hadn’t eaten a full meal all weekend.
I felt hot, sweaty, and out of breath. The nerves had my whole body battered…
My internal state felt like there was a thunderstorm coming in off the lake, the wind was picking up and there were no birds on the beach in this version.
“Dad, I don’t think I can go to the last session today.” My 18-year-old self said.
My Dad was trying to find the right words to say, so he paused for what felt like forever…
“The way I see it, you have 2 options, we can turn the car back on and drive 4 hours home, or you can find it somewhere in you to push through and find out what is on the other end of this tryout.”
He paused again…
“If you don’t go through with it and we just go home, you’ll always have a “what if I would have regret, you don’t want to have those.”
I had been cut from 5 teams that summer so I was in a way… Scared of making this team. Scared of success.
But my Dad was right, I didn’t want to have a “what if” regret follow me around forever.
I didn’t have any real food left in me, but I was going to find a way or make a way onto that team. I was going to go to the last session.
“Take me to the rink, please.”
So we drove down to the rink and I made that team.
Where to Turn?
That was the first pivot point in my adult life.
Pivot points are like a crossroad.
You can go left, straight, or right at the 4-way intersection. Each path will take you somewhere different.
Not going to that last skate would have altered my life completely. I’m grateful my Dad framed my options up for me.
I wouldn’t have played 3 years of junior hockey, I wouldn’t have landed at a D3 school in Minnesota and met two teammates who are aspiring coaches like me. I wouldn’t have been cut from that team sophomore year and transferred. I wouldn’t have played for the coach who has had the biggest impact on my coaching.
I wouldn’t have had the guy in my corner that gave me my first coaching job. That guy was the coach of the team in the story. The one team I did make that summer. If I didn’t drive from the beach to the rink that day, none of it happens. And the newsletter you’re currently reading doesn’t exist.
Reflect and Reach Out
Take some time to reflect on your journey so far.
Where have the pivot points been in your life?
Send a text or call someone that has had a great influence on your trajectory.
The self-made person is a lie. Nobody does it alone.
Give thanks to those who have given you opportunities.
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