I’ve been binging the Against the Rules podcast by Michael Lewis, author of the books Moneyball and The Big Short, among others.
The entire series is about the demise of the referee or umpire – not just in sports, but across all aspects of life, contributing to a world full of mistrust and doubt and outright aggression towards the people whose job it is to make the decisions and force the agreements we unruly and selfish humans can’t arrive at on our own.
I’ve been enthralled with the series, but I just finished episode three of season two, and I had to share it here.
I’m generally repelled by anything that looks like a ‘self help’ guide or coach, but this episode, The Coach in Your Head (embedded below), explores an angle I find deeply compelling: “inner game coaching”.
It’s a deep dive into how we can all perform better – not simply by trying harder or any of that other malarkey wisdom from rich people that ignores the circumstances of our lives, but by mastering the mental game.
The episode opens with a story about Tim Galway, a bored tennis coach who discovers something profound: sometimes the best way to teach is to not teach. By encouraging his students to quiet their inner critics and focus on the present moment, he unlocks their hidden potential.
That reads like a “yeah, no shit” line, but as Lewis learns from himself and through interviews with others on the episode, it can have far-reaching implications.
Some key points I took from this one:
- Silence the Inner Critic: We all have that voice in our heads that second-guesses and judges us. The “don’t fuck up…” voice. The “inner game” is about learning to manage that voice so it doesn’t sabotage our efforts.
- Focus on the Present: Dwelling on past mistakes or worrying about future outcomes can cripple our performance. The key is to stay grounded in the here and now, focusing on the skills and talents that have already proven themselves.
- Find Your Focus Cues: What helps you stay centred and in the zone? It might be a physical sensation, a mantra, or a mental image. The key is to find what works for you.
- Embrace Discomfort: ‘Growth happens’ when we step outside our comfort zones. A good coach can help us navigate those challenges and build mental resilience.
Some quotes I loved:
- “I’m more interested in teaching than I am in the student learning.”
- “Focus on the wrong thing and you’ll do the wrong thing.”
- “What shocked me and what thrilled me was to see tennis improving without the student trying to improve.”
- “The leader is the interference.”
- “Anyone can coach anything, and anyone doing anything now needs a coach.”
- “All I would do is ask them awareness questions or give them awareness instructions.”
- “What I discovered is that performance is all about focus.”
These quotes capture the essence of Tim Galway’s insights into coaching and the importance of mental awareness in performance.
So, yeah. Ripper episode.
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