Coach from the sidelines

Yes, I too played high school sports and have plenty to say when it comes to those sports. BUT….If you want to help your son or daughter, don’t do it while the game is in progress – unless of course you are the coach. . Allow the coaches to coach. Coaching your child during a game situation is likely to lead to their confusion. Do I listen to my coach or my parent? Watch and enjoy your child’s development in the sport. Be supportive and cheer. Volunteer as a coach if you really do wish to help all kids on the team.

Criticize the referee or umpire

Nothing will make your child more proud than hearing mom and dad scream obscenities at the referee. Now that’s setting a great example! I’ll be prepared to re-send this particular blog to your child in another 15- 20 years when they are a parent, following in your footsteps based on your example. Referees have a tough job. A baseball umpire may make 150 calls per game. If three are questionable, that’s still a 98% success rate. Which is pretty good. You don’t need to agree with all the calls. Some calls will go your way and some won’t. That’s life. The ref may be horrible. Be the mature adult and use it as a teaching moment for your kids. Don’t encourage finger pointing. It will NOT serve them well in life. “Yes [daughter], you’re right. The ref had some bad calls. Some games that is the way it goes. Hopefully during the next game, your team will be able to convert all those excellent passes into goals. The other team had a strong defense, including their goalie who made fantastic stops.”

Criticize your child’s teammates

It may be easy to criticize and point fingers during the post-game show that takes place in the car ride home or later that day. I guarantee you that what you say to your child about his or her teammates, they hear and they very well may repeat. Understand that as a parent, you have pull. Your kids hold what you say in high regard, although they’d never admit it. When their friends ask them how their lacrosse game went over the weekend and they comment that they lost because Brian did terrible tending  goal, sadly you’ll hear your own words. Choose what you say post-game wisely and minimize the finger pointing directed at fellow players, coaches, umpires or the other team. We don’t need victims in this world, we need victors. Teach your athlete to look in the mirror and ask how they can do better next time. How can they be a better teammate? Make sure to congratulate your child on how they played and all the things they did well.

Put the other team down

Be positive and compliment the opposition when they make a good play. This does not make you a trader, but rather elevates your status to Supreme Sport. It allows for appreciation of the sport while encouraging good will.

Act SUPER intense. Every game. All the time.

Every game is a championship game/match/meet, right?  Would you support your child’s school if they were to have a BIG test EVERY day? Probably not. You want them to have a love for learning and understand that school and learning can be fun! Same true for sports. You may have signed them up to play initially and as they’ve grown, they really do love their sport(s). Keep the love alive. Don’t make it too intense for them. Don’t take the fun out of the sport. If you see them backing off their sport, talk about it. Ask why. Maybe it’s time to try something new.

I’m a HUGE fan of youth and athletics. It mirrors many of life’s situations and builds character. In sports, we win some and we lose some. In life, we win some and we lose some. I’m also #1 Fan for parents supporting their kids by modeling positive and sportsman-like behavior. Teach your kids about being a classy winner and gracious loser. Point out positive role models.

Go Team! Have fun!

Mind Your Sporty Manners,

Kelly

Imagine yourself seated at the table at a beautiful wedding (napkin in lap of course). Notice the many utensils, glasses and plates. Oh my! You take a sip of what you think to be your water glass, only to notice the person to your left taking a sip out of the same water glass moments later. After you think “yuck” – your next thought is “oops!” Whose water goblet is it?

When seated at the table, drive your BMW. Bread . Meal. Water. Left to right, just like we read.  Your bread and butter plate is to your left.  Your main meal plate is center and your steering wheel. And finally, your water (and wine) glasses are to your right. It’s that easy.

Look out summer weddings and end-of-season-banquets! This blog reader will NOT make the mistake of stealing his neighbor’s water goblet!

Being confident at the dining table allows you to feel comfortable so you can truly enjoy the meal and your company.

Mind Your Manners,

Kelly

This blog is dedicated to all the Miss Seattles out there. Those of you who think your social media interactions aren’t part of your personal branding.

Personal branding?  Why do I need that?

Got job interview? Personal branding.

Got volunteer opportunity? Personal branding.

Got friends? Personal branding.

Got Miss Seattle crown? Personal branding.

Personal branding is slightly different than reputation. A reputation is known to those who know us/of us in some capacity. Your personal brand is much broader since it can be viewed by the entire world. Thank you Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. Thank you Internet. Thank you Google.

We ALL are out there!

Allow me to share the story of the newly crowned Miss Seattle, who in December very innocently tweeted “Ugh. Can’t stand cold rainy Seattle and the annoying people.”

No profanity. No inappropriate pictures. She was simply tweeting how she felt on that particular day in December, missing Arizona where she went to college.

No big deal, right? Well not when you are Miss Seattle. That one tweet from several months ago landed her in the national spotlight. Not the way I’d want to be mentioned on Good Morning America or The Today Show. The tweet didn’t match her new title of Miss Seattle and the personal brand of such.

If I looked at your social media accounts, what would I see?

Today I spoke with high school juniors about interviewing and asked them to please clean up their social media profile because 91% of recruiters use it in making a hiring decision (Mashable.com Oct. 2011). I also informed them that college admissions offices utilize social media sites.

Are you being intentional with your on-line image? I’ve blogged before about first impressions and judging books by their covers, but the image you portray on-line can be pre-first impressions AND post-first impressions. For those that have never met you, it IS your cover. Look at your sites from an outsider’s eyes. Do they portray you in the way you wish to be portrayed?

Mind Your Manners,

Kelly