How Great Coaches Teach More Than Sports | Evan Johnsen

Remember that coach or teacher who inspired you to working harder and achieving your goals? 

If you had experience where a coach or teacher made an impact, I’m sure that experience includes more than just playing a sport better or passing that algebra test – they were able to empower you with life skills.

Many of us were fortunate enough to have a positive role model when we were kids, and for myself it’s easy to see the profound impact they had on who I am today.

And while we appreciate those teachers and coaches for the impact they had on our lives, if you’ve been a mentor, a coach or instructor, you know how rewarding and fulfilling it is to be in that role.

Today, I get the opportunity to talk with Evan Johnsen, the Vice President of Programs and Development at First Tee Greater Seattle and get to learn about how he uses his superpower to inspire and empower young people through the game of golf.

As someone who has played a variety of sports throughout my life, as well as coached youth sports for 14 seasons across four different sports, I know the demand, the opportunities, and the rewards of sports both as a player and as a coach.

In this conversation, you can tell Evan brings a lot of intention, purpose, and meaning to his craft and it’s the interaction with the young people and other coaches that fills him up.

As a coach of youth and manager of adults, Evan shared some wisdom he’s learned along his journey.

In this episode, Evan answers the following questions:
▶️ What’s important in coaching youth sports?
▶️ How do you make an impact in the lives of young people?
▶️ How do you connect with kids?
▶️ How do you teach life lessons through sports?

My favorite quote from the episode: “They won’t care what you know until they know you care.”

Whether you are coaching youth sports, managing a team, or being a friend, the role of empathy in amplifying the impact you want to have is critical to your success. And sometimes, their success too.

Resources mentioned in the episode:
▶️ Evan’s email: [e-mail]
▶️ Evan on Instagram: coach_evan
▶️ First Tee Greater Seattle: www.firstteeseattle.org
▶️ First Tee National: www.firsttee.org
▶️ Chambers Bay Solstice Fundraiser for First Tee Seattle:
✨ Support Evan: https://tinyurl.com/Evan-Solstice
✨ Support Roger: https://tinyurl.com/Roger-Solstice

Chapters
0:00 Intro & Welcome
4:38 First Tee Greater Seattle
5:46 Best Sport for Life Lessons
7:58 Chambers Bay Solstice Event for First Tee
12:47 What or Who Inspired Evan's Superpower
17:32: Role of Curiosity in Evan's Superpower
20:49 Learn to Laugh at Adversity
21:32 Performance Equals Skill Minus Interferences
23:10 Relationship between Joy and Superpower
26:12 Bill Wright Golf Complex and Community
30:32 What Do You Know To Be True?
34:38: Lightning Round

Video in this episode used by permission from First Tee Greater Seattle.

Music in this episode by Ian Kastner.

"What Do You Know To Be True?" is a series of conversations where I speak with interesting people about their special talent or superhero power and the meaningful impact it has on others. The intention is to learn more about their experience with their superhero power, so that we can learn something about the special talent in each of us which allows us to connect more deeply with our purpose and achieve our potential.

For more info about the podcast or to check out more episodes, go to:
https://wha