One of the goals I had in mind when I was MMS coaching we started out being an even better father / coach for our kids. And it works. I have learned to listen better, without judgment, and not to give omniscient advice, but to let them discover their own directions by asking questions.
For example, I recently drove to Groningen on a Sunday to spend a beautiful summer afternoon and evening with Joost, one of our sons. Joost Studies Economics & Business Economics and has just completed an intensive Board year. He was fiscus I at Aegir, the student Rowing Club. A heavy function that takes you completely, Aegir counts approx. 600 members and has about 100 boats. The financial responsibility could be compared to that of a company of any size. In short, a year from which you learn a lot.
When we were at Café Hammingh in Gamwerd on the Waterfront, one of my first questions was: what has this year brought you? Joost replied: "Of course I have gained an incredible amount of practical knowledge, but not only that. What I have noticed above all is that I have developed a much more social attitude. I was very happy with the result of a survey among the members, from which 4 words emerged about me: socially strong, good in content. I was also very driven to do it right, to get everything out of it.”
Joost told me that it used to happen that he came home at six in the morning and then, hup, stood next to his nest at half past eight to be on Aegir in time. It took him no effort. His roommates called him " the machine." In the shower, all kinds of ideas came to him and on the bike to Aegir he thought about it further. As soon as he was on Aegir he quickly wrote them down in a hardcover book so as not to lose them and then set to work on them. It was the inspiration for the day, it gave him wings. "I didn't leave until it was over.”
My question at the time was, “Where did you get it from? What's your source?”. Joost: "you just do it; with one swing I got out of bed and I felt the energy and the ideas coming up. Somewhere under my heart it came from there.”
"That is your authentic self, Joost, how wonderful that you have discovered the power of inspiration, your source, in yourself. Cherish it, " was my reaction.
While enjoying a delicious dinner at 'de kleine heerlyckheid' we talked for a long time about the future and how much he will benefit from this discovery in the further course of his studies and his later life, each time.
Boy Van Droffelaar, PhD
