This week, my mentor and friend, Coach George Raveling, passed away at the age of 88. He lived an exceptional life and was committed to helping as many people as possible.
I was introduced to him in the fall of 2020 by Michael Lombardi. During that initial meeting, Coach saw something in me and chose to mentor me. A couple of weeks later, a stack of books arrived in the mail. Our friendship grew from a love of learning.
Coach and Lombardi were co-founders of the Daily Coach newsletter. As a leadership coach and self-improvement enthusiast, I’ve been a subscriber and fan of their work since 2018.
“Focus on how you talk to yourself about yourself. When you think it cannot be done, do it. Problem solvers view setbacks as opportunities. Get out of your own way while concentrating on going from good to great. Allow excellence to become a state of mind. Your mantra. A lifestyle. Excellence is not a goal that is achieved overnight. Excellence is the legacy that lives on long after you!”
Coach George Raveling
“Some people come into our lives as blessings and others as lessons. Don’t try to convince people they are wrong; merely get them to question their certainty.
Coach George Raveling
When we genuinely trust another person, the dynamics flow more smoothly and openly. A good relationship is when two people accept each other’s past, support each other’s present, and love each other enough to encourage one another’s future. The most basic and powerful way to connect with another person is to listen.
Listening is an overt demonstration of respect for someone else. It means respecting the person enough to listen to them, to hear, and to recognize their voice. A listening reality is some people don’t have the disposition to be good listeners. Their thoughts and feelings make so much internal noise that they can’t hear anything else.
There is a danger in actively listening. It means you might end up seeing life differently—this can be an unsettling experience for some.”
Coaching Raveling was constantly sharing information and was always receptive to my questions and different perspectives. He lived what he taught.
“At 87 years old, I’ve come to see life, leadership, and sports through a similar lens — not as arenas of perfection, but as proving grounds for growth and transformation. A place where our character is shaped not just in victory, but often in the sting of defeat.
Coach George Raveling
Over the years, I’ve made plenty of mistakes. Some were minor. Others, frankly, were disastrous. There were moments I didn’t listen to my gut, times I overestimated my understanding, and seasons when I struggled to trust myself — or the people I was tasked with leading.
I’ve taken the “L” more than once. But here’s what I’ve come to understand: every “L” doesn’t have to stand for Loss. Sometimes — if we’re open to it — that “L” stands for Lesson.
And the lessons? They’re sacred. They stay with you. They soften your edges and expand your heart. They help you see the world with greater clarity and compassion.”
Earlier this year, he shared his story in a series of 21 lessons. You can find those lessons in his book. What You’re Made For. Below are two excerpts.
“When you commit to a relationship, you’re making a decision to accept both the best and the worst aspects of the other person. But it doesn’t stop there.
Coach George Raveling
When you enter into that relationship, you also inherit all of the other person’s relationships, both positive and challenging. This expansion of your network, or what I like to call your “relationship tree,” can be enriching and complex.
It’s through this relationship tree that we grow not only as individuals but as a collective unit. The branches of our lives intertwine, offering new opportunities for connection, support, and growth. But they also bring new challenges that require patience, understanding, and communication.
The strength of a team, especially a family, lies in its ability to navigate these complexities together, supporting one another through the highs and lows.
People talk about their personal life and their professional life as if they are two separate entities. But the fact of the matter is that we only have one life. It’s all connected, whether we want to admit it or not.
How we live our lives at home affects how we show up at work. The quality of our work life affects how we are as a spouse and a parent. So, I tried to live an integrated life as much as possible.”
Coach Raveling lived a full and rich life. When people talk about legacy, they might think about what a person has attained or built, but the legacy of leadership is your impact on people and the relationships you nurture. Coach lived this.
Coach Raveling’s curiosity, generosity, and humility contributed to the depth and width of his impact on people.
It was an honor to be mentored by Coach Raveling and be considered a friend. I’m sharing the last text he sent me. He was an encourager and positive force to the very end.
The best tribute is to carry the baton forward and be a good steward of our relationships.