Do you need a coach?

I was meeting with a client the other day and the discussion turned to running and cycling, two activities we both emerse ourselves in.  I am trying to gear up for a marathon and being a man of a certain age, I am finding the body doesn't react to punishment the way it used to even a few years ago.  I was conveying details (complaining) about my training challenges and how the shins hurt and the heels hurt.  The client asked about my training regimen and during that explanation he indicated that I was probably over-training...running too hard and too fast.  My reply included the fact that I was following a training schedule I downloaded from the internet.  Finally he asked, "Do you need a coach?"   I paused.

Now the explanation for the pause will take longer than the actual pause but stay with me.  I have been running for most of the years leading up to my certain age; basically since the 6th grade.  I know running.  I live running. Plus, I am (I think) tough.  I know what I know and there's not much I don't know...I am sure of it. But then again, what I know isn't working.  "Ummmm,  yeah," was the phrase that ended the pause.

He immediately emailed a guy that lives two hours away who had a pretty cool website and modestly boasted of a couple Olympic runners he has coached.  His name is Randy and I called him.  I asked him why a guy who coaches Olympians would be interested in coaching a middle aged guy who has nothing to prove but wants to defy age as long as possible. Throughout the conversation he said that he wants to help people who have a desire to improve and he especially likes to work with people who have regular busy lives and want to integrate a running lifestyle.  After about 20 minutes on the phone, we agreed it was a good fit.

So now I keep a daily diary and email it to him on Saturdays.  On Sunday, he emails me a workout schedule for that week.  So what's different and why would I pay for something when there's so much free information on the internet and in other resources?  I'm about 4 weeks into it and the answer is this: it's the access to someone who understands what I am going through and the accountability.  I am running more regularly than I have in many years because I know I have to upload my accomplishments each week.  Plus, when something hurts or I have a question about barefoot running shoes, I can ask him. Even though it's just email and an occasional telephone call, I know I'm not alone...

Entrepreneurship is a lonely endeavor.  It's like hitting a golf ball.  I'm told you have to think about fifty things all at once and one thing affects the other 49 in some way.  One of the things we are emphasizing in the CEG right now is to leverage our personal and professional networks to find mentors for our client companies.  Each company and each entrepreneur is different but everyone needs someone they can bounce ideas off and someone to help remind them which of the fifty things they should think about first.  Jim Collins speaks of the "council".  We call them mentors. But they are really coaches.  Sometimes it's a small group of two or three.  Sometimes you meet formally and sometimes it's over coffee or a telephone call.  It's someone you trust and someone who wants to see you succeed. It may be free or it may cost you something.  There's a guy working with me on a technology opportunity.  He told me "you can't afford me so just buy me a lunch every couple months. I gotta eat."  He has been down the path I'm on.  His advice has been very valuable.  I'm not alone...

Do you need a coach?