Here is why I intentionally keep the environment raw, unpolished, and real at our gym..
“I place a major emphasis on keeping the environment at my gym raw, unpolished, and real.
This allows the kids to be themselves.
It is only whey are comfortable enough to be themselves that I can build the trust & relationships required to get their potential out of them.”
-Ray Zingler on X
So many people in this space, and hell any many spaces miss it.
Adults feel as if they must micromanage every single little detail in an effort to have this heavily structured, perfect environment for their kids without realizing how big of a disservice this is to their development as people.
They try, try, and try to doctor it up just right and then act bewildered when their as seen on Instagram “organized mommy” plan falls right on its face.
Kids are growing, imperfect people and yet for some reason we think putting a polished finish on their environment is going to somehow positively impact their ability to handle the muddiness life will inevitably throw at them.
Now don’t get me wrong, I’m not over here condoning anarchy as I mightily believe in discipline and order, but here is what I have learned in my 13 years of working with thousands of kids every single day of my life.
They want to be able to be themselves. PERIOD.
They don’t want mom and dad leaning in on every little thing they are doing. It makes them and others around them feel awkward and uncomfortable. Studies show it is a MAJOR detriment to their learning and development, too.
This is a major reason we disallow parent viewership during our public group training sessions.
We have nothing to hide, but we are protecting the integrity of not only their child’s experience, but the others around them.
The music, the language, the awkwardness, the arguments, the reservations, the failures, the growth, I leave it all as entirely real as I possibly can (again, no, I’m not intentionally promoting vulgarity or violence) because I know that real breeds real.
And when I keep it real, they can be real.
And when the kids know they can be themselves, it removes a barrier. They begin trusting me (us) more and more.
And when the kids trust their leaders, strong bonds and relationships are built.
And it is only when strong bonds and relationships are built, that an adult accesses the ability to get the most out of a kid’s potential.
In a world where coaches, parents, and teachers all over the place are playing checkers…
The real ones know the real game is chess.
