david wrote:
"i don't coach anybody anymore. but if i wanted to coach, and i could have my pick of any athlete, i'd start with lionel. if i was a manufacturer, and i wanted an athlete to use my product, my first stop would be lionel. and... i don't even know lionel. "
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Your insight is exactly on target. No question he is an intriguing character with huge potential. However, a question hanging out there that I really do not know enough about is his addiction and recovery. Perhaps it is out there, I just don't know about it. The reason I bring that up is working with that addiction mindset could be very problematic. His erratic/irrational decision making his training, etc, is probably a symptom of or replacement for of his addiction/recovery. That will continue until HE deals with it . . . a coach or marketer probably won't be able to do a lot with him until he does a lot with himself. I wish him well.
i'm writing thru the prism of a rank capitalist. if cameron wurf moves from pinarello to trek, and he wins the bike split next year, is it because of trek? but if he loses the fastest bike split? and trek is the only change he made?
we've had the two best weather years in kona's history the past 2 years. only '93 and '96 come even remotely close. what are the odds of more years like this? it's likelier that the men's win time next year is closer to daniela's winning time from yesterday.
if i pick up lange, frodeno, wurf, i'm just picking up somebody who, if he falters, i'm the only change, i get the blame (as the coach, bike sponsor, whatever).
but lionel! it's only upside. if he spirals off into oblivion, he was on that road anyway. if he returns to form, i'm the savior.
and, let's remember, other than the last 3 months this guy was money in terms of reliable podium finishes. so, yeah, as an equipment sponsor or coach, if all he does is return to form i'm the savior. lionel is the safest, surest bet there is.
the only thing i'd need to do, to be, is that guy who he can trust. the skill is not in providing lionel with good advice and equipment. the skill is in demonstrating to lionel that you can be trusted. i have one trait that lionel needs to generate inside himself. i have one really good skill: i only hire people who are smarter than me. the skill is in realizing that this is an imperative, and that means acknowledging that you're not only not the smartest guy in the room, but that you're in trouble if you're the smartest guy in your employ. lionel will eventually find those who are smarter than him.
Dan Empfield
aka Slowman