Hope, Belief, Nurture
The word Hope, like all players, needs support. Hope with the words critique, support, help, nurture, belief, opportunity, more nurturing, all sprinkled in, is one of the greatest words in sports.
Words, like people, need support to have meaning. Doses of reality are fine when applied properly.
Hope diminishes as staffs grow in numbers until a staff begins to operate like the great teams that grew because each person recognized the unique assets of their colleagues and it all comes together
Hope, like luck, isn't random. There are support words that enhance chances of Hope becoming aspirations and dreams come true.
Hope, Help, Belief & Love: Four (4) of the greatest words in sports and life. Intertwined they become the most powerful. Hope supported by helping others help themselves creates a synergy in an organization that you can feel and it runs right though you.
Hope is an important part of the equation when you recruit or draft a player. Hope is a big deal in sports. I met a guy in this business years ago that told me he was going to minimize the word Hope in the process of recruiting, scouting and drafting. I listened with an open mind and looked forward to the day we were going to revolutionize the world of recruiting and scouting. I’ve had others since, that I respect, come up with some practical predictability solutions that help minimize but we will never eliminate the word. Most important, let’s find a way to work with it.
Hope goes beyond Hoping the players make it. Hope starts with recruiters and scouts hoping people on the staff have the talent to teach, help, nurture and believe with an open mind, heart, and eyes. Hope is hoping there is a caring level beyond most. Hope is belief and knowing that the recruiting and scouting staff saw something in the player and person worth nurturing. Where would we be without Hope?
If Hope is Belief with a lot of Love and determination, I'm good with that. It will work.
Copyright by Chuck Grillo, Minnesota Hockey Camps, 24621 So Clark Lake, Rd P.O. Box 90, Nisswa, MN 56468-0090 Phone 218.96.2444 Fax 218.963.2325
Email: chuck@mnhockeycamps.com All rights are reserved. No part of this book, blog OR template may be reproduced or transmitted in any form by any means without permission in writing from Minnesota Hockey Camps
Monday, October 25, 2010
Monday, October 11, 2010
AUTHENTICITY; Something Pure and Good
Authenticity; Something Pure and Good
Everyone likes something pure and good. This is where it starts. I’ve been witness to performances by athletes that I would like to remember for a long time. The one way to ensure this is to duplicate the moment with consistency realizing it just needs to represent all that was pure and good in the moment. This is an athlete that clearly understands the importance of separating themselves fm the group while still blending in to the team concept.
This is one important part of being a human being; making sure you keep the exciting parts of being human present in your life. If this isn’t incentive, nothing is.
There is nothing like an incorruptible athlete that represents an authentic heart, authentic passion and unwillingness to compromise. Hockey players are both strong and fragile when you weigh in what their body experiences during the course of a game. There is nothing like an athlete who loves to play, plays to win and has people responding to their performance. They are not in it for the money; they learned early on that money follows passion. These athletes and performances restore faith in humanity when the value of role models is being tested. There is nothing like a winner who is authentic, pure and good.
When you see it, you can feel it and it runs right through you. I have observed a number of awe-inspiring players when they are @ the top of their game and their performances appear magical.
The Authenticity of the athlete takes it to a level where it becomes as close to a religious experience as it can get. The Authentic athlete finds a way to duplicate with consistency. They are the type of people who feel they are missing something if they miss training for one day.
How many times have you been @ a game where some young athlete does something out of the ordinary that separates themselves fm the group? Are they aware that this needs to be duplicated? Are they aware of the importance of duplication and consistency in their game? Are they aware of what they did to create this magical moment in their life? Will they build on it? Do they have the support system and mentors in place to build on all the good they do? Is the moment incentive to take it to another level? These questions, and there are many more, need to be answered to enhance the process of taking an athlete to their maximum level.
AUTHENTICITY
People with a passion for life and the game are forever looking for something new or something to solve and represent all that is pure and good. They have an authentic heart, authentic passion and unwillingness to compromise. They are always looking for lessons in life and the game. They are the most curious people I know and they never arrive. This is a prerequisite for being a complete athlete and a good leader.
Can you pass the authenticity test?
The dictionary tells us authentic people have a particular way of dealing with the external world, being faithful to internal rather than external thoughts and ideas. This is a pure measurement for great leaders and great athletes.
“What you see is what you get.”
Copyright by Chuck Grillo, Minnesota Hockey Camps, 24621 So Clark Lake, Rd P.O. Box 90, Nisswa, MN 56468-0090 Phone 218.96.2444 Fax 218.963.2325 Email: chuck@mnhockeycamps.com All rights are reserved. No part of this book, blog OR template may be reproduced or transmitted in any form by any means without permission in writing from Minnesota Hockey Camps
Everyone likes something pure and good. This is where it starts. I’ve been witness to performances by athletes that I would like to remember for a long time. The one way to ensure this is to duplicate the moment with consistency realizing it just needs to represent all that was pure and good in the moment. This is an athlete that clearly understands the importance of separating themselves fm the group while still blending in to the team concept.
This is one important part of being a human being; making sure you keep the exciting parts of being human present in your life. If this isn’t incentive, nothing is.
There is nothing like an incorruptible athlete that represents an authentic heart, authentic passion and unwillingness to compromise. Hockey players are both strong and fragile when you weigh in what their body experiences during the course of a game. There is nothing like an athlete who loves to play, plays to win and has people responding to their performance. They are not in it for the money; they learned early on that money follows passion. These athletes and performances restore faith in humanity when the value of role models is being tested. There is nothing like a winner who is authentic, pure and good.
When you see it, you can feel it and it runs right through you. I have observed a number of awe-inspiring players when they are @ the top of their game and their performances appear magical.
The Authenticity of the athlete takes it to a level where it becomes as close to a religious experience as it can get. The Authentic athlete finds a way to duplicate with consistency. They are the type of people who feel they are missing something if they miss training for one day.
How many times have you been @ a game where some young athlete does something out of the ordinary that separates themselves fm the group? Are they aware that this needs to be duplicated? Are they aware of the importance of duplication and consistency in their game? Are they aware of what they did to create this magical moment in their life? Will they build on it? Do they have the support system and mentors in place to build on all the good they do? Is the moment incentive to take it to another level? These questions, and there are many more, need to be answered to enhance the process of taking an athlete to their maximum level.
AUTHENTICITY
People with a passion for life and the game are forever looking for something new or something to solve and represent all that is pure and good. They have an authentic heart, authentic passion and unwillingness to compromise. They are always looking for lessons in life and the game. They are the most curious people I know and they never arrive. This is a prerequisite for being a complete athlete and a good leader.
Can you pass the authenticity test?
The dictionary tells us authentic people have a particular way of dealing with the external world, being faithful to internal rather than external thoughts and ideas. This is a pure measurement for great leaders and great athletes.
“What you see is what you get.”
Copyright by Chuck Grillo, Minnesota Hockey Camps, 24621 So Clark Lake, Rd P.O. Box 90, Nisswa, MN 56468-0090 Phone 218.96.2444 Fax 218.963.2325 Email: chuck@mnhockeycamps.com All rights are reserved. No part of this book, blog OR template may be reproduced or transmitted in any form by any means without permission in writing from Minnesota Hockey Camps
Friday, September 3, 2010
Professions Greatly Pursued
Professions Greatly Pursued
They say, "Every profession is great that is greatly pursued". MHC has a purpose beyond the bottom line. We give young people with talent a purpose in life and we create a "passion" for the game; emptying the holsters and using all the passion and fire within you.
It has been proven that people who talk about their mission in life have higher productivity levels.
When you study the minds of the most successful people in the world, a number of things come to mind. These people are only interested in what it takes to succeed. They pay little or no attention to all those reasons why they are not going to succeed. They know how and why and that is all that matters when they chart the course. They become detail people capable of critiquing themselves on a daily basis and they show compassion for others as they move on and up in life. The live life with a purpose.
The high majority select a mate to enjoy life and share the great moments they work for. That mate plays a huge role by allowing them to live their dream or live their life. Successful teams execute their game plan. They tend to make the other team worry about them.
I was fortunate because my wife allowed me to "live my life". I found ways to thank her numerous times. Once I sent her a little talking bear on Valentines Day. The bear responded when squeezed by saying, "Happy Valentines Day. I Love You, Clairene. Thanks for allowing me to live my life." I also allowed her to live her life because she spent a high percentage of her time keeping up the house, raising the kids and running the hockey camp. She made more of a commitment than me to the real things in life. She is the underlying reason for the success of the camp and all the good you see in the kids is an extension of her beliefs and work.
Winning and doing things the right way raises the self esteem level of an entire community and proves one more time why athletics and all those hard fought battles for arenas stand for everything that is right in life. Hockey has been the beneficiary of adversity. Hockey has had to do most everything on its own.
Young people need balance in their lives. This is why we believe that "extra-curricular" should be called "co-curricular". I've always felt sorry for the "kid who went home at three o’clock". This means they are missing out on the most valuable growth experience in their formative years. We've always felt that the school shops should be open for people who are not interested in other activities. This informal type of education gives mentors an opportunity to build on the all-important intangibles in life.
Successful players, like successful people, take risk. There is a positive correlation between risk takers, winning and success in life. They live on the edge, but they know the consequences in every situation so their risk level is calculated. They know the consequences to the team and to their families and lives. Crunch time brings out the best in them. Offensive players become more focused defensively during the play offs. This is why teams that stress creativity on offense step up their game in the play offs. Very few defensive minded teams can step up their offense.
Team members on successful teams are not all intellects of your class, community or world. I taught school for sixteen years. Every student that possessed the foundation of a person, as described in our Template for Success Program, received a "C" or better in my classes. This means that they possessed the unique skills needed to cultivate their talents. Keep in mind that every person has some kind of talent. Test scores were only there to differentiate between "A" and "B" students, so we were striving for excellence in all areas.
Conversely, students testing out with "A" on my tests had to possess the foundation skills to get an "A" in my classroom. While this caused some problems between some parents and me, the student was the beneficiary because they were better prepared to function in their job once they were hired. Most success stories use their educational opportunities to develop skills far beyond tests and the academic classroom. Busy students with balance in their participation develop the skills of time management and judging people. There aren't too many who make it without the help of someone outside of their immediate family. They learn to judge with improvement being the main objective.
Your career and life is the bi-product of your character, class and charisma.
Attending class every day, interacting with your peers and forming adult relationship with your mentors has more to do with your ultimate success than any book. We need a test that tells us what a young person is made of versus what they know. I conducted "Independent studies during my lunch hour when I was teaching. I still have many of the paintings done by artistic kids during lunch hour. These are kids who failed Art because they were not "original" in the teacher's eyes. I was under the impression that doing a painting off a portrait was an unbelievable skill. This style of teaching is nothing more than recognizing creativity and unique skills. I only provided the nurturing that is so non-existent in these situations.
We can not form a set of beliefs about a player before we encounter them as a person. Knowing the person, and what they stand for, allows us to predict success with more accuracy. When we know the thought process and value system of the person we can make some kind of prediction or judgment on the future.
Successful people have the integrity to be honest with others, control their emotions, develop the social skills to get along with peers and adults, marry a person who will let them "live their lives", and they work beyond the 2,000 hours that the average person is asked to work. Is this normal? No! Did we want to be normal? No! Successful people are above what is normal, or average, in life; always seeking more and never arriving.
Copyright by Chuck Grillo, Minnesota Hockey Camps, 24621 So Clark Lake, Rd P.O. Box 90, Nisswa, MN 56468-0090 Phone 218.96.2444 Fax 218.963.2325 Email: chuck@mnhockeycamps.com All rights are reserved. No part of this book, blog OR template may be reproduced or transmitted in any form by any means without permission in writing from Minnesota Hockey Camps
They say, "Every profession is great that is greatly pursued". MHC has a purpose beyond the bottom line. We give young people with talent a purpose in life and we create a "passion" for the game; emptying the holsters and using all the passion and fire within you.
It has been proven that people who talk about their mission in life have higher productivity levels.
When you study the minds of the most successful people in the world, a number of things come to mind. These people are only interested in what it takes to succeed. They pay little or no attention to all those reasons why they are not going to succeed. They know how and why and that is all that matters when they chart the course. They become detail people capable of critiquing themselves on a daily basis and they show compassion for others as they move on and up in life. The live life with a purpose.
The high majority select a mate to enjoy life and share the great moments they work for. That mate plays a huge role by allowing them to live their dream or live their life. Successful teams execute their game plan. They tend to make the other team worry about them.
I was fortunate because my wife allowed me to "live my life". I found ways to thank her numerous times. Once I sent her a little talking bear on Valentines Day. The bear responded when squeezed by saying, "Happy Valentines Day. I Love You, Clairene. Thanks for allowing me to live my life." I also allowed her to live her life because she spent a high percentage of her time keeping up the house, raising the kids and running the hockey camp. She made more of a commitment than me to the real things in life. She is the underlying reason for the success of the camp and all the good you see in the kids is an extension of her beliefs and work.
Winning and doing things the right way raises the self esteem level of an entire community and proves one more time why athletics and all those hard fought battles for arenas stand for everything that is right in life. Hockey has been the beneficiary of adversity. Hockey has had to do most everything on its own.
Young people need balance in their lives. This is why we believe that "extra-curricular" should be called "co-curricular". I've always felt sorry for the "kid who went home at three o’clock". This means they are missing out on the most valuable growth experience in their formative years. We've always felt that the school shops should be open for people who are not interested in other activities. This informal type of education gives mentors an opportunity to build on the all-important intangibles in life.
Successful players, like successful people, take risk. There is a positive correlation between risk takers, winning and success in life. They live on the edge, but they know the consequences in every situation so their risk level is calculated. They know the consequences to the team and to their families and lives. Crunch time brings out the best in them. Offensive players become more focused defensively during the play offs. This is why teams that stress creativity on offense step up their game in the play offs. Very few defensive minded teams can step up their offense.
Team members on successful teams are not all intellects of your class, community or world. I taught school for sixteen years. Every student that possessed the foundation of a person, as described in our Template for Success Program, received a "C" or better in my classes. This means that they possessed the unique skills needed to cultivate their talents. Keep in mind that every person has some kind of talent. Test scores were only there to differentiate between "A" and "B" students, so we were striving for excellence in all areas.
Conversely, students testing out with "A" on my tests had to possess the foundation skills to get an "A" in my classroom. While this caused some problems between some parents and me, the student was the beneficiary because they were better prepared to function in their job once they were hired. Most success stories use their educational opportunities to develop skills far beyond tests and the academic classroom. Busy students with balance in their participation develop the skills of time management and judging people. There aren't too many who make it without the help of someone outside of their immediate family. They learn to judge with improvement being the main objective.
Your career and life is the bi-product of your character, class and charisma.
Attending class every day, interacting with your peers and forming adult relationship with your mentors has more to do with your ultimate success than any book. We need a test that tells us what a young person is made of versus what they know. I conducted "Independent studies during my lunch hour when I was teaching. I still have many of the paintings done by artistic kids during lunch hour. These are kids who failed Art because they were not "original" in the teacher's eyes. I was under the impression that doing a painting off a portrait was an unbelievable skill. This style of teaching is nothing more than recognizing creativity and unique skills. I only provided the nurturing that is so non-existent in these situations.
We can not form a set of beliefs about a player before we encounter them as a person. Knowing the person, and what they stand for, allows us to predict success with more accuracy. When we know the thought process and value system of the person we can make some kind of prediction or judgment on the future.
Successful people have the integrity to be honest with others, control their emotions, develop the social skills to get along with peers and adults, marry a person who will let them "live their lives", and they work beyond the 2,000 hours that the average person is asked to work. Is this normal? No! Did we want to be normal? No! Successful people are above what is normal, or average, in life; always seeking more and never arriving.
Copyright by Chuck Grillo, Minnesota Hockey Camps, 24621 So Clark Lake, Rd P.O. Box 90, Nisswa, MN 56468-0090 Phone 218.96.2444 Fax 218.963.2325 Email: chuck@mnhockeycamps.com All rights are reserved. No part of this book, blog OR template may be reproduced or transmitted in any form by any means without permission in writing from Minnesota Hockey Camps
Friday, August 20, 2010
World Junior Evaluation Camp
World Junior Evaluation Camp
I always find it interesting to listen to the beliefs and thoughts of others when I go to these camps. You have people promoting something that isn’t there and then you have those more than willing to “box in” a young athlete who is nowhere near what he has the potential to be.
The latter one concerns me most because I would never want my own children to “buy in” to those who “box in”. Mentors have the obligation to “nurture nature”. Think about it!
Athletes are beyond becoming what you believe they can be, but it’s difficult for them when you are the one telling them what they can be. I’ve always believed more for young athletes for one simple reason. I’m not going to be the one mentor in their life who stifled their potential as a person or athlete. That being said, I am more than willing to teach them a “back up game”, or “game within their game”, that will enable them to make the next level. Every player needs this and in many cases they end up playing this role @ the NHL level.
Suffice to say, “I know a lot of players who could play @ a higher level in the NHL but do not because of a number of reasons. One, someone “boxed them in” along the way and they “bought in”. Two, their lifestyle keeps them fm putting the finishing touches on their game and in many cases causes them to lose even the secondary role they play on the team. Three, having a “clear head” is imperative for your feet and hands to work @ full capacity. Living right, and being proud for doing it, is the sure way of having a “clear head”. Being able to look in that mirror and like the person you see is paramount to success in any endeavor.
Hockey is a physically and mentally demanding sport. Maximizing your strength is a given. Split second thinking @ the quickest level possible is something to work on and requires a high fitness level. Both require proper rest and nutrition. Living right keeps the mind clear and your mind is in command of your feet and hands.
I would want my child to “buy in” to a temporary role on a World Junior Team if the sole intent was him being able to play this role for the good of the team. I would want those in my care to overachieve in the role so others could emulate them. Learning that role will serve you well down the road because that may be the way you earn the respect @ a higher level that enables you to make it to each level. Making the team has to happen before any of us are able to show what we really can do when given an opportunity.
Copyright by Chuck Grillo, Minnesota Hockey Camps, 24621 So Clark Lake, Rd P.O. Box 90, Nisswa, MN 56468-0090 Phone 218.96.2444 Fax 218.963.2325 Email: chuck@mnhockeycamps.com All rights are reserved. No part of this book, blog OR template may be reproduced or transmitted in any form by any means without permission in writing from Minnesota Hockey Camps
Monday, August 16, 2010
Living the Brand
Living the Brand
If your life is your business, and every business needs a brand, you better start living the brand! Your life becomes a business the moment you do something to gain notoriety; something out of the ordinary.
Remaining calm, emotional stability @ its finest during the storms, is all part of the internal strength you need while formulating the direction of your brand (life). One way to ensure your brand is going in the right direction is you developing a strictand disciplined routine. Most have no clue how strict and disciplined the routine has to be. Once the routine is in place, you need to find some kind of balance around that routine that includes faith, beliefs, friends and family. If part of the routine is laborious, or tedious, consider yourself lucky because the finished product is the result of all your experiences.
The best piece of advice beyond that is to trust and go with your instincts. This will serve you well in critical moments where split second thinking instincts get you through each situation. Critical moments and game sevens (7) have a way of breaking down basic skills, and simple tactical execution, that are givens. Everything comes down to trusting your game and your instincts.
Being in the public eye is part of being in your life’s business as a player so learn to live with it on a daily basis. The critics are always present. Learn to live with it by building up a resolve reservoir that never empties. Resiliency will become your partner in life.
Suffice to say that being well groomed is all part of living the brand. Once established you are able to create your own identity; what you see is what you get goes on display and it could be totally unique.
Money is secondary to passion because money is the byproduct of the passion you have in everything you do. Money follows passionate people with the ability to express their talent.
When you own a camp, you begin to realize how few realize what it takes to live a brand (your life and career). They have no clue and going on the defensive, when exposed, will only kill the process.
Copyright by Chuck Grillo, Minnesota Hockey Camps, 24621 So Clark Lake, Rd P.O. Box 90, Nisswa, MN 56468-0090 Phone 218.96.2444 Fax 218.963.2325 Email: chuck@mnhockeycamps.com All rights are reserved. No part of this book, blog OR template may be reproduced or transmitted in any form by any means without permission in writing from Minnesota Hockey Camps
If your life is your business, and every business needs a brand, you better start living the brand! Your life becomes a business the moment you do something to gain notoriety; something out of the ordinary.
Remaining calm, emotional stability @ its finest during the storms, is all part of the internal strength you need while formulating the direction of your brand (life). One way to ensure your brand is going in the right direction is you developing a strictand disciplined routine. Most have no clue how strict and disciplined the routine has to be. Once the routine is in place, you need to find some kind of balance around that routine that includes faith, beliefs, friends and family. If part of the routine is laborious, or tedious, consider yourself lucky because the finished product is the result of all your experiences.
The best piece of advice beyond that is to trust and go with your instincts. This will serve you well in critical moments where split second thinking instincts get you through each situation. Critical moments and game sevens (7) have a way of breaking down basic skills, and simple tactical execution, that are givens. Everything comes down to trusting your game and your instincts.
Being in the public eye is part of being in your life’s business as a player so learn to live with it on a daily basis. The critics are always present. Learn to live with it by building up a resolve reservoir that never empties. Resiliency will become your partner in life.
Suffice to say that being well groomed is all part of living the brand. Once established you are able to create your own identity; what you see is what you get goes on display and it could be totally unique.
Money is secondary to passion because money is the byproduct of the passion you have in everything you do. Money follows passionate people with the ability to express their talent.
When you own a camp, you begin to realize how few realize what it takes to live a brand (your life and career). They have no clue and going on the defensive, when exposed, will only kill the process.
Copyright by Chuck Grillo, Minnesota Hockey Camps, 24621 So Clark Lake, Rd P.O. Box 90, Nisswa, MN 56468-0090 Phone 218.96.2444 Fax 218.963.2325 Email: chuck@mnhockeycamps.com All rights are reserved. No part of this book, blog OR template may be reproduced or transmitted in any form by any means without permission in writing from Minnesota Hockey Camps
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
MHC Mission Statement and Purpose
MHC MISSION STATEMENT
To be the best provider of hockey training for athletes, coaches and trainers in the World
To operate the company on a sound financial basis of profitable growth
To reach out to players around the world; making the Camp the most respected in hockey
To reach out to other programs that complements our camp experience
To address the needs of the Brainerd Area community through involvement with youth programs and other worthy causes
To empower employees and athletes to “Be As Much As You Can Be” in a nurturing environment which recognizes unique talents of each individual, unconditional respect for the talents of others, and creativity.
We are in this business to create an awareness of training by exposing assets and liabilities. We are the type of people who force you to make a decision on us; force you to have an opinion on what we do. You will pick sides before you finish our program. We do things from the heart. Aside from the pleasure of owning the camp, if our athletes garner inspiration from their involvement, incentive, or find a way to love training and playing the game, if will be great. You will either love us or leave us. Either way; finish one week and you will be more proud than when you walked on to the grounds.
Image may be everything to the person who takes time to build his own, but substance is everything. You get more out of hockey when you use the game to learn more about life. You develop a love for the game where you can feel it. Only than can you act on your assets and liabilities.
If we don’t have an idea that materializes and changes a person’s life, then what have we got? We wouldn't really have much of anything. We can have talks, research, seminars and meetings. If we don’t have a change in the organization or team, we really have nothing. It’s not too often we get to do something for the first time as we get older. Young people give us an opportunity to create something new every day we work with them.
“Commitment to training the way we train prepares an ordinary person to do extra-ordinary things.”
We are a camp that refuses to follow America's trend. We are still attempting to create the drive and desire that used to exist in the majority of all athletes. It comes as no surprise that the sports world is deteriorating when you consider all the wealth and all that is out there for kids these days. They have a lot of choices outside of the playground setting. We are losing the "hungry" kid that used to be able to afford the game and the wealthy feel they can get by with the gimmicks.
Chris Chelios has a son that told the Gretzky boys that this camp is hard, and he is right. Well, the Gretzky boys took everything we had to offer in stride and hopefully they will return for the right reasons. They received no special treatment and they responded admirably. I have a great deal of respect for them and their upbringing after observing them for two weeks.
I saw something in Dean Chelios that made me want him here for 5 to 7 weeks a summer. I liked what I saw. He was a good kid and performed admirably out of his comfort zone. I know in my own heart we could help him because, like the Gretzky children, he has things you can't teach.
We are in an age where kids get too much too soon and we have too many who think they can "buy success". We have too little focus on consistency and continuity. The intangibles are secondary and kids are being misled as to what it takes to succeed in life and the game. We believe our passion, and love for the game and kids who play it, will rub off on the people who work and play here.
Baseball fields are filled with hungry and poor sand lot ball players, but those sand lots are in a different country. Outdoor rinks are a thing of the past in most areas. Structure and "buying" our way is the norm in AAA hockey.
We still maintain the hope that some hungry kid or some kid who has everything going in life but hockey, will catch and pass up the guy who gets all the breaks. We are an underdog camp with a few elite players to emulate. One of the easiest ways to develop a winner without cost is to elevate the charisma, class and character levels of every young person we meet. These are traits that bring more credibility to the game.
Our country is falling behind in most every sport and we haven't been able to figure out the reasons why. It comes as no surprise to me after traveling all over the world and being witness to the different ideas on training.
This camp has the answer, but few care to listen. There is no replacement for quality training time spent working hard. There is no replacement for the combined humor and sweating with your colleagues. Hard work is fun and will always be. Hard work puts you on a path to "Peace of Mind".
When our society begins to once again endorse that concept we will be on the road to recovery. If a player plays five (5) minutes in a sixty (60) minute game, they will play like it is the most important five (5) minutes of their life. We need to develop players capable of creating an atmosphere (attitude) conducive to success. Hockey players contribute in different ways. In doing so, they feel a sense of ownership and pride; all part of being on a winning team.
"Adults and management have a way of stripping young people of opportunity; if only by a rating system." For some, you may get that “one chance” and you better be ready to make the most of it. For others, they can do no wrong. Right or wrong, the pros have less of a support system for their players than the amateurs. This comes at a time when the support system could be the most important thing in your life.
None of us can say we’ve done it by ourselves, no matter what we accomplish in our lives. Supports systems are crucial to our success; whether amateur or pro. We’ve been witness to over twenty-five (25) training camps during our professional career. Sometimes it is the high risk chance we don’t take that gets the attention of management, then there are the times it is the expression of our unique talents.
Every athlete has to take the approach, "If it can happen, I am going to make it happen."
This was the concept our forefathers envisioned when they laid the foundation for this great country; a model for any team to follow. I would guess there are more than a few rolling around in their graves right now; not too happy with what’s happening in our society.
Team members provide an enormous lift to society and communities when they know they are doing something well. When their light shines, our light shines. It matters not who or what you are; you are no different than the next person.
Our camp changes young peoples’ lives for these very reasons.
The word "mission" is very evident at Minnesota Hockey Camps. We strive to have each person have a communicable, altruistic purpose for what they are doing, especially, for their vocation and profession. We consider our life in hockey an avocation. We are on a mission as mentors of sorts with hopes that the end results are Peace of Mind, Stanley Cup, and a legacy such as our camp in the Brainerd Lakes Area. We still have a chance to win another Cup and Ring. We can readily identify with our mission in life. The purpose is much larger than we are and we feel we can talk about our lives as having a meaningful and worthwhile direction.
Camps have been, are and always will be an important segment of American society. They are a place to let the imagination run. We have a plus having ours in a pristine setting. Young people need camp experiences to grow out and away from their comfort zones. A worthy camp will play a role in the psychological, sociological and physical growth of a child, and ultimately plays a role in their successes in life. The camp can play a similar role in any employee’s life. We embrace a family style setting in and amongst the birch, pines and pristine shores of beautiful Clark Lake. We have a rustic setting with the latest in training techniques.
We are aware of what our company can do to improve the quality of life for people like our players, coaches and support staff. We have a quality place to work and play. We can cite example upon example of how MHC’S service made a difference in individual lives. The self-esteem levels of the people involved are raised considerably, we are saving careers once doomed to fail, and we are improving people's life-styles by recognizing their unique skills.We are helping young people find purpose in their lives and careers and we are helping others discover what they have in common to work together. We've recruited people with the right values to carry out our mission. Per person productivity is up there with the best in the business. The employee's attitudes toward our company are at an all time high.
We know we’ve recruited the right people when they are people who take the time to make sure that some person they don’t know, and may never see again, has a great experience and leaves with something more than when they arrived. These are life changing experiences. The desire to want to be a part of this is a true measure of your worth to society and your profession. Our own aspirations become more defined.
Copyright by Chuck Grillo, Minnesota Hockey Camps, 24621 So Clark Lake, Rd P.O. Box 90, Nisswa, MN 56468-0090 Phone 218.96.2444 Fax 218.963.2325 Email: chuck@mnhockeycamps.com All rights are reserved. No part of this book, blog OR template may be reproduced or transmitted in any form by any means without permission in writing from Minnesota Hockey Camps
To be the best provider of hockey training for athletes, coaches and trainers in the World
To operate the company on a sound financial basis of profitable growth
To reach out to players around the world; making the Camp the most respected in hockey
To reach out to other programs that complements our camp experience
To address the needs of the Brainerd Area community through involvement with youth programs and other worthy causes
To empower employees and athletes to “Be As Much As You Can Be” in a nurturing environment which recognizes unique talents of each individual, unconditional respect for the talents of others, and creativity.
We are in this business to create an awareness of training by exposing assets and liabilities. We are the type of people who force you to make a decision on us; force you to have an opinion on what we do. You will pick sides before you finish our program. We do things from the heart. Aside from the pleasure of owning the camp, if our athletes garner inspiration from their involvement, incentive, or find a way to love training and playing the game, if will be great. You will either love us or leave us. Either way; finish one week and you will be more proud than when you walked on to the grounds.
Image may be everything to the person who takes time to build his own, but substance is everything. You get more out of hockey when you use the game to learn more about life. You develop a love for the game where you can feel it. Only than can you act on your assets and liabilities.
If we don’t have an idea that materializes and changes a person’s life, then what have we got? We wouldn't really have much of anything. We can have talks, research, seminars and meetings. If we don’t have a change in the organization or team, we really have nothing. It’s not too often we get to do something for the first time as we get older. Young people give us an opportunity to create something new every day we work with them.
“Commitment to training the way we train prepares an ordinary person to do extra-ordinary things.”
We are a camp that refuses to follow America's trend. We are still attempting to create the drive and desire that used to exist in the majority of all athletes. It comes as no surprise that the sports world is deteriorating when you consider all the wealth and all that is out there for kids these days. They have a lot of choices outside of the playground setting. We are losing the "hungry" kid that used to be able to afford the game and the wealthy feel they can get by with the gimmicks.
Chris Chelios has a son that told the Gretzky boys that this camp is hard, and he is right. Well, the Gretzky boys took everything we had to offer in stride and hopefully they will return for the right reasons. They received no special treatment and they responded admirably. I have a great deal of respect for them and their upbringing after observing them for two weeks.
I saw something in Dean Chelios that made me want him here for 5 to 7 weeks a summer. I liked what I saw. He was a good kid and performed admirably out of his comfort zone. I know in my own heart we could help him because, like the Gretzky children, he has things you can't teach.
We are in an age where kids get too much too soon and we have too many who think they can "buy success". We have too little focus on consistency and continuity. The intangibles are secondary and kids are being misled as to what it takes to succeed in life and the game. We believe our passion, and love for the game and kids who play it, will rub off on the people who work and play here.
Baseball fields are filled with hungry and poor sand lot ball players, but those sand lots are in a different country. Outdoor rinks are a thing of the past in most areas. Structure and "buying" our way is the norm in AAA hockey.
We still maintain the hope that some hungry kid or some kid who has everything going in life but hockey, will catch and pass up the guy who gets all the breaks. We are an underdog camp with a few elite players to emulate. One of the easiest ways to develop a winner without cost is to elevate the charisma, class and character levels of every young person we meet. These are traits that bring more credibility to the game.
Our country is falling behind in most every sport and we haven't been able to figure out the reasons why. It comes as no surprise to me after traveling all over the world and being witness to the different ideas on training.
This camp has the answer, but few care to listen. There is no replacement for quality training time spent working hard. There is no replacement for the combined humor and sweating with your colleagues. Hard work is fun and will always be. Hard work puts you on a path to "Peace of Mind".
When our society begins to once again endorse that concept we will be on the road to recovery. If a player plays five (5) minutes in a sixty (60) minute game, they will play like it is the most important five (5) minutes of their life. We need to develop players capable of creating an atmosphere (attitude) conducive to success. Hockey players contribute in different ways. In doing so, they feel a sense of ownership and pride; all part of being on a winning team.
"Adults and management have a way of stripping young people of opportunity; if only by a rating system." For some, you may get that “one chance” and you better be ready to make the most of it. For others, they can do no wrong. Right or wrong, the pros have less of a support system for their players than the amateurs. This comes at a time when the support system could be the most important thing in your life.
None of us can say we’ve done it by ourselves, no matter what we accomplish in our lives. Supports systems are crucial to our success; whether amateur or pro. We’ve been witness to over twenty-five (25) training camps during our professional career. Sometimes it is the high risk chance we don’t take that gets the attention of management, then there are the times it is the expression of our unique talents.
Every athlete has to take the approach, "If it can happen, I am going to make it happen."
This was the concept our forefathers envisioned when they laid the foundation for this great country; a model for any team to follow. I would guess there are more than a few rolling around in their graves right now; not too happy with what’s happening in our society.
Team members provide an enormous lift to society and communities when they know they are doing something well. When their light shines, our light shines. It matters not who or what you are; you are no different than the next person.
Our camp changes young peoples’ lives for these very reasons.
The word "mission" is very evident at Minnesota Hockey Camps. We strive to have each person have a communicable, altruistic purpose for what they are doing, especially, for their vocation and profession. We consider our life in hockey an avocation. We are on a mission as mentors of sorts with hopes that the end results are Peace of Mind, Stanley Cup, and a legacy such as our camp in the Brainerd Lakes Area. We still have a chance to win another Cup and Ring. We can readily identify with our mission in life. The purpose is much larger than we are and we feel we can talk about our lives as having a meaningful and worthwhile direction.
Camps have been, are and always will be an important segment of American society. They are a place to let the imagination run. We have a plus having ours in a pristine setting. Young people need camp experiences to grow out and away from their comfort zones. A worthy camp will play a role in the psychological, sociological and physical growth of a child, and ultimately plays a role in their successes in life. The camp can play a similar role in any employee’s life. We embrace a family style setting in and amongst the birch, pines and pristine shores of beautiful Clark Lake. We have a rustic setting with the latest in training techniques.
We are aware of what our company can do to improve the quality of life for people like our players, coaches and support staff. We have a quality place to work and play. We can cite example upon example of how MHC’S service made a difference in individual lives. The self-esteem levels of the people involved are raised considerably, we are saving careers once doomed to fail, and we are improving people's life-styles by recognizing their unique skills.We are helping young people find purpose in their lives and careers and we are helping others discover what they have in common to work together. We've recruited people with the right values to carry out our mission. Per person productivity is up there with the best in the business. The employee's attitudes toward our company are at an all time high.
We know we’ve recruited the right people when they are people who take the time to make sure that some person they don’t know, and may never see again, has a great experience and leaves with something more than when they arrived. These are life changing experiences. The desire to want to be a part of this is a true measure of your worth to society and your profession. Our own aspirations become more defined.
Copyright by Chuck Grillo, Minnesota Hockey Camps, 24621 So Clark Lake, Rd P.O. Box 90, Nisswa, MN 56468-0090 Phone 218.96.2444 Fax 218.963.2325 Email: chuck@mnhockeycamps.com All rights are reserved. No part of this book, blog OR template may be reproduced or transmitted in any form by any means without permission in writing from Minnesota Hockey Camps
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Which One Are We? Critique Ourselves
Which One Are We? Critique Ourselves!
We’ve had a lot of discussions lately about careers, workplace, leisure time, recreation, religion and family. This discussion always seems to surface when we are working about 100 straight days prior, during and after the camp during the summer months when everyone is busy having vacations. Keeping priorities straight while trying to build a career will be a defining moment in most every person’s life. The moment will define, and label, you as an employee or you will define the moment and acquire a great label. I had a good session on the phone with my good friend, Tom Hexum, and we’ve come up with some ideas about work and its place in your life.
The dictionary tells us authentic people have a particular way of dealing with the external world, being faithful to internal rather than external beliefs and ideas. This is a good start for anyone while pursuing a career or multiple careers.
How do you prioritize work and your career? Work – life balance has been an issue for years. Is work on par with faith, family, leisure and recreation or does one have a priority over the other. As a teacher, coach, business owner, NHL scout and executive, I am one who has formed my own provocative opinions during my adult life. The answer is simple for me. The passion for work, especially working with young people, watching them grow and seeing them move on is much more important to me than any of the others. Included in the group are our own children, relatives, children of associates, draft picks, campers, students, future picks, and free agents. Leisure activities, time off and recreation are not on a par with my commitment to my work; not even close. The importance of my work far outweighs anything I do. My faith tells me I should go well beyond my job description and my family benefits more when I do well in my job. So, why not make work a priority?
“When there is work to do, there is no time for other things, but you can find a way to fit some good times in. “Getting it done” is required of anyone pursuing a career and advancement, whether monetary, promotion or both.” They do what it takes regardless of the perceived sacrifice.
The reasoning is simple for me. Work gives you an opportunity to have a better life, more opportunities and gives you a chance to help more people help themselves; including our own family. I’ve always been able to find my share of church, family and leisure activities around my work. Suffice to say I fit it in some way; but not to the max that would be appreciated more by others.
I am witness to all of these young people with aspirations in life and they seem to think everything surrounding work is on par with work. They crave instant gratification. They couldn’t be more wrong. Things don’t just happen. Sometimes you have to scratch and claw your way to success while sacrificing some things you enjoy more or something like faith and family you consider more important.
“Faith based people who fail to go beyond their job description must be reading different scriptures than I’ve read. Faith isn’t a crutch; faith is incentive to enjoy working hard @ what you do or want to do.”
Worst case, you have to make a “real” commitment of some kind and go beyond the ordinary. With 2,000 hrs being the average work year for most, this means you commit far beyond the 2,000 hrs to achieve. 2,000 hrs is mediocrity @ its finest. If you are not interested in being a difference maker, and going beyond your job description, I don’t know how any employer can commit to you. You have no idea the number of people I’ve met that are satisfied to “just do my job”. They are the same people who question why they don’t get a raise and/or promoted.
The great mentors in the world live by the quote: “My obligation and responsibility to you is greater than your obligation and responsibility to me. I will do what it takes and enjoy doing what it takes.” Live by these words, and you end up being the primary beneficiary because people become what you believe they can be. Young coaches get in to the game with the idea of having a great career. Problems arise when their career has priority over those they are working with. This is the opposite of how life works.
We’ve had a lot of discussions lately about careers, workplace, leisure time, recreation, religion and family. This discussion always seems to surface when we are working about 100 straight days prior, during and after the camp during the summer months when everyone is busy having vacations. Keeping priorities straight while trying to build a career will be a defining moment in most every person’s life. The moment will define, and label, you as an employee or you will define the moment and acquire a great label. I had a good session on the phone with my good friend, Tom Hexum, and we’ve come up with some ideas about work and its place in your life.
The dictionary tells us authentic people have a particular way of dealing with the external world, being faithful to internal rather than external beliefs and ideas. This is a good start for anyone while pursuing a career or multiple careers.
How do you prioritize work and your career? Work – life balance has been an issue for years. Is work on par with faith, family, leisure and recreation or does one have a priority over the other. As a teacher, coach, business owner, NHL scout and executive, I am one who has formed my own provocative opinions during my adult life. The answer is simple for me. The passion for work, especially working with young people, watching them grow and seeing them move on is much more important to me than any of the others. Included in the group are our own children, relatives, children of associates, draft picks, campers, students, future picks, and free agents. Leisure activities, time off and recreation are not on a par with my commitment to my work; not even close. The importance of my work far outweighs anything I do. My faith tells me I should go well beyond my job description and my family benefits more when I do well in my job. So, why not make work a priority?
“When there is work to do, there is no time for other things, but you can find a way to fit some good times in. “Getting it done” is required of anyone pursuing a career and advancement, whether monetary, promotion or both.” They do what it takes regardless of the perceived sacrifice.
The reasoning is simple for me. Work gives you an opportunity to have a better life, more opportunities and gives you a chance to help more people help themselves; including our own family. I’ve always been able to find my share of church, family and leisure activities around my work. Suffice to say I fit it in some way; but not to the max that would be appreciated more by others.
I am witness to all of these young people with aspirations in life and they seem to think everything surrounding work is on par with work. They crave instant gratification. They couldn’t be more wrong. Things don’t just happen. Sometimes you have to scratch and claw your way to success while sacrificing some things you enjoy more or something like faith and family you consider more important.
“Faith based people who fail to go beyond their job description must be reading different scriptures than I’ve read. Faith isn’t a crutch; faith is incentive to enjoy working hard @ what you do or want to do.”
Worst case, you have to make a “real” commitment of some kind and go beyond the ordinary. With 2,000 hrs being the average work year for most, this means you commit far beyond the 2,000 hrs to achieve. 2,000 hrs is mediocrity @ its finest. If you are not interested in being a difference maker, and going beyond your job description, I don’t know how any employer can commit to you. You have no idea the number of people I’ve met that are satisfied to “just do my job”. They are the same people who question why they don’t get a raise and/or promoted.
The great mentors in the world live by the quote: “My obligation and responsibility to you is greater than your obligation and responsibility to me. I will do what it takes and enjoy doing what it takes.” Live by these words, and you end up being the primary beneficiary because people become what you believe they can be. Young coaches get in to the game with the idea of having a great career. Problems arise when their career has priority over those they are working with. This is the opposite of how life works.
Categorizing this situation is easy for me because I am witness to it most every day. There are coaches in the game for their career and personal gain and there are those who are in it for those in their care. Some are in to it for extra spending money; which to me is criminal. The first, even though talented, will have a short career and be scrambling for work. There are too many who fail to embrace opportunity, fail to go beyond their job description and visibly show a caring level to impact others.
Someone taught them early on in life that perception and deception is more important than substance and reality. Some possess all the skills, and articulate extremely well with good sound bites. Others add a great hand shake and look you in the eye just like they were taught. I’ve had too many experiences with this type of person and I am always wary of “articulation, good sound bites, a fake hand shake and look in the eye”. I want to see and feel the substance. I’m not satisfied until I sort it out and it’s time tested.
Mentors are a level up on a coach by a considerable margin. This is a simple choice for me because those putting the players before their career will have better careers. I know I would never be enjoying the career I have if it wasn’t for the players in my life. Focusing on players getting better in every possible way should be the priority and you will end up the beneficiary. The players I coached in my early years are the underlying reason for me enjoying a career in the NHL along with those who were in a position to give me an opportunity.
“I can honestly say I’ve lived every job I ever had and I still haven’t arrived, and I’m a very lucky person. My avocation @ age three (3) is my vocation as I start working my way thru the 70’s.”
It’s always been fun to thin slice people in the profession; whether myself, management, players, coaches or mentors. The players are the easiest because they only need to be difference makers with some degree of consistency, be a “real person”, reach a skill threshold required for the level they play and the mind will take it fm there. Skill to express your skills and skill to get out of yourself and bring others in to your life enter in to the equation.
“How hard is it to be a real person?” There is a difference between a “good guy” and a “real person”. Good guys often times are only good guys who are lukewarm, ride the fence and talk out of both sides of their mouth. They say what they think you want to hear and they lack substance. “Real people” are more likely to take a stand with a thought provoking statement.
The coaches are a little more difficult, but you can see it, feel it and it moves right through the team with regard to their impact on players. The interest and sincerity shown is easy to measure. It is all part of their demeanor, eyes, tone of voice and words; words having the least impact. Once @ this level, they are well on their way to the Mentor level.
Mentors stand alone in this world. True Mentors are very visible and their work is easy to observe and measure. They always pass the authenticity test which puts them a level up on a coach. “The great mentors get angry @ the right things, with the right people, the right way, @ the right time and the right length of time. They should be recognized and commended for this. They embolden those in their care with boldness and courage. They are 24/7 when it comes to all the intangibles required to be a great Mentor and are consistently demanding when it comes to intangibles complementing a skillset. The great Mentors judge people with the sole purpose of improvement as their main objective.
Management is easy to sort out by assessing their caring levels and inner circle. I feel it is important to have business – personal type of relationship because the love, loyalty and respect are always present. There are two winners or no winners. Working in this setting makes work fun; even makes hard work fun. You would probably stay on if you won the lottery. There is no better boss than one capable of creating a positive culture. The same can be said for anyone in leadership roles capable of creating a winning culture.
Work hard with drive to excel; make it a priority and go beyond your job description. Be curious with a high compete level, smart, think things through, and articulate well with good sound bites that are time tested. Back it up with substance and reality and you will be well on your way to a successful career.
People with a passion for life and the game are forever looking for something new or something to solve. They are always looking for lessons in life and the game. They are the most curious people we know and they never arrive. This is a prerequisite for being a complete athlete and leader.
Show us a life examined, re-examined and critiqued on a daily basis and we will show you a life worth living. There is nothing more important than passing the “authenticity test”; what you see is what you get and what you get is a “real person”, one who cares about others, before any personal gains. This internal attribute, being faithful to internal thoughts, beliefs and ideas; will take you far beyond anything external. There is an authenticity test for every position in the game.
Copyright by Chuck Grillo, Minnesota Hockey Camps, 24621 So Clark Lake, Rd P.O. Box 90, Nisswa, MN 56468-0090 Phone 218.96.2444 Fax 218.963.2325 Email: chuck@mnhockeycamps.com All rights are reserved. No part of this book, blog OR template may be reproduced or transmitted in any form by any means without permission in writing from Minnesota Hockey Camps
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