"Good conductors know when to let an orchestra lead itself. Ninety percent of what a conductor does comes in the rehearsal - the vision, the structure, the architecture," - Joshua Bell, concert violinist and conductor. Bell's description of conducting is virtually the same as that of what good coaches (and leaders) do. While the stereotype of coaching is one of energetic yelling and directing from the sidelines, the best coaching is done in practice, before the performance, with intention, design, and attention to detail.

With the school year and fall sports in full swing, the excitement of new beginnings has worn off and the challenges that are an inherent part of sport and performance have begun to arise. It's in these moments that one's perception, action, and will become vitally important. With that in mind, here are thoughts from three American icons that are fitting for this point of the season.

The greatest challenge is to take the worst thing that happened to you and make it the best thing that happened to you. - Bill Walton

Find what works for you, and exploit it. - Mark Twain

The cowards never started, and the weak died along the way. That leaves us. 

- Kit Carson 

Matt Ganyard had aspirations of kicking for the University of Virginia football team. In 2009, the ex-soccer player went 9-for-9 in his tryout, but was ultimately cut. The rejection email became of a source of motivation. Ganyard went on to graduate from UVA and join the Marines, becoming a Cobra helicopter pilot. At every stop during his deployments, Ganyard would get out the footballs and practice his kicking. After a 10 year career, he left the Marines and enrolled in UVA's Darden School of Business MBA program. Now 34 and the father of two, he still harbored hopes of kicking for the football team. He earned a spot on the squad and was granted eligibility by the NCAA, thanks to a unique loophole in the rules.

Ganyard's persistence, drive, and discipline are outstanding, yet unsurprising for a Marine. His ability to balance school, football, and family is truly exemplary. Sprinkle in the sense of humor needed to laugh at being called "Pop Pop" and "Uncle Matt" by his teammates, and you have a winning combination. At the end of this journey, he plans to tell his kids “. . . that you can chase your wildest dreams. And maybe, you can thread the needle and make something happen.” Through the first two games of the season, he has six touch-backs in 10 kickoffs.

When evaluating performance, it's easy to notice errors and then say, "Don't do that." This approach only highlights what NOT to do, instead of focusing on what to do. It's like a doctor telling a patient, "Don't move your arm," when the patient says, "It hurts when I move my arm like this." Instead, identify the cause(s), not just the symptoms. Think about solutions and identify precise actions that get at the root of the problem. Note that the focus should be on the actions that lead to the desired outcomes, rather than just focusing on the outcomes. For a great example of this, check out Pete Carroll describing the Seattle Seahawks' approach to practice (Thanks to Doug Lemov for this example).

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