I attended an awards event last night.  At my table was a collection of highly accomplished coaches and a who’s who of sporting super heroes.  The table was packed with Olympians, multi-time national champions and world record holders.  I am none of the aforementioned so I tried to look nonchalant while quietly thanking the seating chart gods for the gift.

One of our many conversations covered the desire to give back to the sports that had taken these coaches and athletes around the world.  None of this was driven by sponsor commitments or federation mandates, it was purely about doing the right thing.

I asked what this giving back might look like.  With no hesitation the table agreed that working with junior athletes was the way forward.  Plenty of reasons were given as to why this approach was something that resonated with my table of high achievers.

Caught up in the moment I asked about working with masters athletes and if that might also be a way to give back.  Well, that’s when things went a little sideways.  It was made very clear that the willingness to listen and learn was a perishable skill and at times non-existent within the age bracket I presently occupy.

I had inadvertently opened Pandora’s box.  Thankfully I was rescued by a well timed dessert course, but the conversation is not something I am going to park.

I was left wondering about the interactions that caused this collection of rock stars to form such an opinion.  I thought about my own behaviors and if I could be one of those bad apples.  Of course I don’t think it’s a problem for me, but maybe that’s the problem.  I really don’t know, but it’s something that is now on my radar.

Mostly I am wondering about the cost of feigning omniscience?