In the newly released film Creed, Adonis (son of Rocky’s rival, Apollo Creed) begs Rocky to train him and teach him his boxing knowledge. He knows that he’s the one person who can get him to the performance level he needs to compete in the high-stakes professional boxing ring.
In training, we know the importance of a knowledgeable mentor, too. Train the Trainer models have been used for years—and mean that a new instructor has someone they can turn to for troubleshooting and guidance. Training learners is not an easy job, after all.
After all, isn’t Rocky the “perfect” example of a train-the-trainer success story? A down and out fighter, Rocky, gets trained by his mentor (Mickey from the original movie) and goes on to win the heavy-weight title. A success for sure. Fast forward all these years and Rocky’s using what he learned from his mentor to train a new generation of fighter using some of the same old techniques he learned back in the day.
So, what lessons can we learn from Rocky’s transference of knowledge from Mickey to Adonis Creed? Here are just a few…
Persistence
Throughout the film, Creed is seen doing intense physical training to get in shape for his big match. He sprints through the streets in a sweat suit. He pummels the speed bag. He jump ropes so fast that you can’t even see it whizzing past his feet. Every day, Rocky wakes him up early so Creed gets right to it. He even chases a chicken around the yard trying to catch it, just like Mickey had Rocky do back in the day.
In a train-the-trainer model, instructors get on-going coaching and mentoring, too. It’s not a one-off; inexperienced instructors have to both observe and get hands-on with the material they’ll be teaching on an on-going basis. This often means being on the receiving end of constructive criticism, and intense workshops—but it creates a well-rounded trainer.
Goal Setting
Creed’s goal is to beat his competitor in the boxing ring. That’s the one thing he wants to accomplish with all of his training. He wants to make a name for himself that stands outside the shadow of his father’s legacy. And that’s what Rocky works to help him do.
For trainers, the goals are varied. An effective trainer needs to be able to do things like:
Lead discussions
Listen to feedback
Keep a positive attitude
Speak confidently in front of others
So in working with a mentor, trainers are being watched to ensure they can accomplish all of those goals. Not always as cut and dry as winning a boxing match, but measurable nonetheless. Their ring = the classroom.
Overcoming Obstacles
Throughout Creed’s training, he has many obstacles to face: His father’s legacy, the temptation to brawl when provoked, distractions, and the pure danger and fear that make boxing what it is. These are similar to the perils Rocky faced back in the day: Apollo Creed, the death of his manager Mickey, having to train and fight in the middle of a Siberian winter, etc. But thanks to Rocky’s mentorship, he’s able to overcome all of these obstacles and get into the ring—and almost win the championship.
Trainers have their own set of obstacles to face. Uninterested learners, participants who won’t engage in discussions, teaching difficult subject matter—you name it. The mentor’s role is to help the trainee learn how to push past these obstacles that could potentially derail a training course. It means regular practice, lots of simulation, and observing others.
Remember, training requires the trainer to know more than just the materials in the syllabus. They need to know how to manage students, facilitate discussions, field all the tangential questions, and much more. Again—it doesn’t come overnight, and it requires a knowledgeable mentor.
Mentoring Wisdom
We can’t all have a mentor like Mickey or Rocky, but we can learn from their wisdom: “Life’s not about how hard of a hit you can give… it’s about how many you can take, and still keep moving forward.”
In training, it’s important to have someone you can call on with questions—so find a mentor, and hold onto that person. They’ll be the Rocky to your (son of) Creed.