In math, when one takes a negative number and multiplies it by a positive number, the number will be negative. When you takes a negative number and multiplies it by a negative number, the number will be positive.
I strongly dislike math for this concept. In real life, two negatives do not make a positive in my opinion. I believe one negative can be turned into a positive.
I was talking one of my coworkers today and he used to be a football coach. He told me that he played football in college and went on to coach for the next few years as a youth, high school coach at the varsity level and as an assistant college coach. I played the part of listener and asked some engaging questions. He stopped coaching because he didn't like the way the kids were being treated and his gut told him that having young kids playing. So he gave up coaching football and for some reason when he said that it really bothered me and I didn't know why.
He explained when he was coaching at a division 2 college program about a kid who received a large football scholarship. After two years in the program the player never really realized the potential the other coaches had hoped he would achieve. Suddenly my coworker said, the other coaches started trying to entice the kid to quit the team so they could use the money on the next prospect. He believed that this was completely unfair to the player, a negative part of the job. Theoretically of course, the players who play on a team are at the discretion of the head coach, even if it some of the things are ethically questionable.
I had an opportunity to talk to him about it when we went out and played 9 holes in the afternoon. I told him that he shouldn't give up because of a few negatives, especially if the positives are so many. I told him he should turn this into a recruiting tool. If he decides to go back to coaching football he can tell the student-athletes he is recruiting what some coaches are actually thinking. He can tell these kids that many coaches don't care about them outside of football and that he is the exact opposite of those negative coaches. This is turning a positive into a negative in my eyes.
I feel that this lesson is particularly important because, on this day, President Donald Trump was sworn in as the 45th president of the United States. Many people are upset about Mr. Trump becoming president, while others are ready for some change. Either way it is imperative that we give the new president a chance just like we gave President Obama his chance.
Happy Inauguration Day and God Bless America,
Kevin Trobaugh, PGA Apprentice
"Be the change you wish to see in the world"
Grade A
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