The Start of Creative Hockey Coaching – My Bunker

Most of my long-time friends and associates know that I stray far outside of hockey for my inspiration.  I guess after so many years in the game, it’s hard for me to find a lot new by staying within such a small box.  In much the same way, I’ve often thought that those far removed from my chosen area of study could borrow a little from what I do, if only for a glimpse outside their own small box.

Actually, the term “bunker” came from my long ago need to do some very serious business and personal lifestyle studies.  I mean, I was once at a point where a lot of work-related and life-altering decisions had to be made, and I needed a place where I could just get away from it all — mentally, really, more than physically.

Thereafter, having realized the benefits of that special atmosphere, I’ve retreated to my proverbial bunker numerous times when I need to make some hard decisions.  And more recently, I’ve made this a springtime ritual — for revamping my business direction and slightly changing my hockey training methods.

In my recent radio show (Episode 29), I talked about “blowing-up” my office and my hockey training methods.  Personally, I’ve noticed that my work changes from year to year, and the spring represents a great time for me to totally rearrange things in the office to reflect those changes.  The fact that a hockey season usually finishes near late-April, the time is right after that to totally re-evaluate my past teaching methods and to design a new direction that combines both the best of the past with some really good new material.

All that said, the following audio and video clips are actually cuts from past radio shows.  They’re timely once again, though. since it’s spring here in New England, and it’s again time to ready my work and life altering “bunker”…

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As you should have discovered, I’m not suggesting an exact location for your personal bunker.  Instead, it should be a place where you can feel the creative juices flowing.  I happen to like the ambient sounds of my neighborhood — or the sounds from a crackling fire, but I’ve found a roaring surf just as relaxing and stimulating. (I don’t know about you, but I just can’t get into a creative mood while sitting and staring at the four walls in my downtown office.)

You may have also noticed a need to have all my work materials readily available.  Let’s face it:  if getting ourselves ready to work is a chore in of itself, we’re not likely to look forward to the set-up or pick-up.

Here’s just a quick peek at my own humble bunker…

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This next audio is more hockey specific.  At the same time, you might gain a sense of how collecting data at season’s end helps my future planning, as well as how my research gradually starts to impact on those in my charge.  Yes, as I and the CoachChic.com guest writers have been suggesting for awhile now, long-range planning is key to using the next few months to their max.

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So, whether for your hockey preparations or for your business, I highly recommend that you think quite a bit about what truly stirs YOUR creative juices.  Then, go about establishing your very own personal “bunker”.