Any Successful Untitled Coaches out there?

The mom of a former student asked me if her son could become the world champion? 

I told her no.  She thought i was being negative, and asked why?

I told her because hes to old.  She didn't like that, and said he is only 10. 

I said that he is 10, and rated 800.  He can become a very good player, but not the world champion.

She then asked me what my favorite sport is?

I said baseball. 

She proceeded to tell me that if i worked hard, gave 110%, dedicated myself to this one goal.  I could play MLB for the Dodgers. 

I said NO...I cant.

She said: "Youre being negative..."

I said no im being realistic.  Im 50 years old.  No amount of dedication, training, positive thinking will change the fact that im to old.

Some people no matter how nice they are, simply dont get it.  And choose to buy into this "If you can think it, you can do it" mentality.

People don't need coaches! They need motivation! I have never had a coach and I am strong enough to consider myself a decent player. Motivation to keep playing and keep improving is what got me here. As long as you know a few basic ideas and keep playing you will grow stronger.

Motivation will not make me an astronaut. 

Motivation will not get me an invite to spring training for the Dodgers.

Sure being motivated is vital to improvement.  But improvement is not just a one trick pony.

True! But motivation keeps you playing. It makes you pick up all the little tips you can. It got me to 1800. I have improved faster than many of my friends and have passed a number of them because I wanted to be better.

Actually, I'm sorry about that. We both agree.

"Being motivated is vital to improvement. But improvement is not just a one trick pony."

Yep, I am motivated to break 2000 blitz but I'm not there yet. But (unless something catastrophic happens) I will be.

I made it to USCF A class on pretty much opening principles, and a friend helping me with coming up with a middlegame plan, so to part of what you are saying i can relate.  I hired a coach to try and get past being an A class player, but soon discovered i dont have the desire to put in the work needed.  I still study...well not right now since i bought MLB The Show 18, and have been pretty much addicted to it.  But HOPEFULLY, i will get back to studying before MLB The Show 19 comes out 03/26/2019.

Cheat...it work for others :-)  Then you can say you met your goal.  It doesnt have to be a valid accomplishment...does it :-)

If you do the RAR, you will atttain your goal. Pay me for details! 

Your Daily rating is 1493...

I hope you realize what you just said.

I didn't mention cheating at all and it almost sounds like you're accusing me of cheating in the future? It is possible to improve without having a coach or doing tactics every day. If  you call getting better without much work "cheating" then I am indeed guilty!

Nooooo...I was not accusing you of cheating.  It was simply my attempt at online humor.

Good point, Joseph is obviously 1493 strength.

Really? Wow! In that case I'm sorry. I have no problem with that then.  (I even do it myself every now and then)

NO worries...at times i forget that my sense of humor doesnt always translate well online.

Excuse me? Did you not read the part that I have four students? (and counting!)

I'm loving this thread... didn't expect it to explode like this!

No one's sense of humor reliably translates online. More than once, I've posted something I thought was clever, but when I read it back later, it just seemed dickish. 

Don't worry, that happens to RARers all the time. It's actually a RAR quote: "When told he was good at faking seriousness: 'That's because whenever I'm serious you still think I'm joking. And vice versa.'- Joseph Truelson"

Welcome to the chess.com forums, where drama, and "look at me!!!" are the norm.