Do as I say , not as I do....am I leading from the front?

As I was lifting yesterday one of our coaches made the comment that my motto should be "Do as I say , not as I do. " . Its not the first time I have heard this from a coach or athlete. I'm not going to lie, the comment usually pisses me off!  As the head coach of PFP  Barbell , I always do my best to lead from the front. I was getting ready for bed last night and I started to think about what "leading from the front " really means. 

I always thought that leading from the front meant perfection( or as close to it as I could be) , perfect technique, perfect meets, perfect guidance etc. I understand that this is unattainable , but I strive to be as close to this as I can. I work hard , listen to my coach, give my best effort to our athletes in meets . I want to be the example that our athletes look to as how to prepare to advance in their weightlifting. 

I think the part I was missing about leading from the front was the fact that you WILL make mistakes ..a lot of them ! I have bombed out of more meets than most of our athletes have competed in, had bad meet plans, been a bonehead leading up to big meets, coached bad meets for athletes, and generally have had some very public mistakes in my  learning process as coaches. I always looks at these experiences as something to be embarrassed of or things I wanted to hide. Now, looking back at it I had it all wrong...

I realized part of my role as a coach is to make mistakes so our athletes don't have to. Lead the way and don't be afraid to try things , fail often , and learn . I can confidently tell our athletes and coaches not to do MANY things because I have done them and I KNOW its a bad idea . My experiences as an athlete and a coach save them from having to go through the same negative results that I have had . On the positive end I have had a ton of success as an athlete and a coach and have wonderful mentors helping me avoid more needless mistakes down the road.  It allows those who follow me to confidently move forward , knowing that our actions are deliberate and based on experience. 

So yes, do as I say, not as I do. Let me lead the way, make mistakes, and take on the consequences. Allow be to lead from  the front , learn from my mistakes so you don't have to a make them yourself. 

Come join the PFP Team! 
Email: ​tom@pittsburghfitnessproject.com



 About Coach Tom :

• NSCA-CSCS
• NSCA-TSAC
• USAW L-1
• Crossfit L-1
• 4x USAW National Qualifier
• 7th at 2017  & 2018 USAW Nationals
• Top 10 Ranked in the USA
• East Coast Gold National Team Member and Coach
• Best Lifts
  • Clean: 191kg(420lbs)
  • Power Clean: 168kg (370lbs)
  • Jerk: 191kg( 420lbs)
  • Clean and Jerk: 185kg (407lbs)
  • Snatch: 156kg ( 345lbs)
  • Power Snatch: 150kg (330lbs)
  • Front Squat: 227kg (501lbs)
  • Back Squat: 273kg (601lbs)
  • Deadlift: 272kg ( 595lbs)
  • Strict Press: 115kg ( 255lbs)