When someone talks about the term ‘coach’ most of us will probably first think of sports activities. That is certainly not incorrect: many famous sports stars and teams use the services of a coach to help them realize their true potential.
The use of a coach is, however, not limited to this field. A coach is simply a person who instructs and works with his or her students to prepare them for just about anything: from reaching peak performance in professional or recreational sports, to developing specific skills that will help them achieve their career and life goals.
It can be argued that for many people the priest is their spiritual coach. And a yoga instructor is in fact nothing else than a coach who teaches his or her students the inner workings of yoga.
If one of your hobbies is playing chess there is no reason why you should not get yourself a good coach, not only to improve your knowledge of the different strategies, but also to help prepare you mentally for a major contest. In fact, many famous chess players of yesteryear rose to fame because they had an excellent coach.
Another hobby where having a coach could have major benefits is photography, particularly if you are serious about becoming a really good photographer. It might take you years to stumble upon all the secrets of this trade, or you might never learn them. With a good coach, however, the learning process will be much less frustrating and much more rewarding.
Finally, if you think you can become a world class poker player by reading books and watching YouTube videos you are probably right – but it could take you a few lifetimes. With the right coach by your side you will learn many hidden tricks of the game which you might never have discovered on your own, and hugely increase your chances of becoming a successful player. A good site to find more information on this topic is The Poker Prophet.