Joel Raether, owner of Authentic Performance in Denver, CO, talks to the NSCA Head Strength and Conditioning Coach, Scott Caulfield, about how to get started and then progress as a strength and conditioning professional. Early on, it takes plenty of long hard hours to get to a high level in this profession, but as you find your way, you must find a balance between work and life. Developing relationships is the biggest part of moving forward and being successful with high level athletes.Joel Raether, MAEd, CSCS,*D, RSCC*D, serves as the Director of Sport Performance at Authentic Performance Center in Denver, CO. He is also the Director of Sports Performance for the Colorado Mammoth Lacrosse team of the National Lacrosse League (NLL) since 2007. He served as the Education Programs Coordinator for the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) from 2009 – 2011. Raether is also the co-founder of Performance Sandbag Training Systems (PST). His coaching career includes stints as the Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach for the University of Denver from 2002 – 2009 and the University of Nebraska at Kearney from 2000 – 2002.Find Joel on Twitter: @Compete4Life ‏ | Find Scott on Twitter: @scottcaulfieldShow Notes Three things for a new gym/facility: “open space… I’m a big fan of med ball work… and then variation of a lot of bands… not necessarily the top three, but those are the first three that come to mind.” 1:54Bruce Lee - “Resist that which is not, and use that which is useful.” 4:56“Staying in your lane a little bit I think is important.” 7:00“You have to start with understanding that you need to get in a position where there are good mentors around you.” 8:02“You’re gonna make mistakes… and learning from mistakes is the biggest thing.” 11:50“If you are going to go that route [writing/getting published], you have to be accepting of the fact that people are going to scrutinize.” 16:22“It requires getting better at the craft of writing itself.” 17:17“I think that it’s important to share with folks.” 19:40“Working on balance is a big part… I have to become better at delegating.” 24:31“Being able to retire as strength and conditioning coaches.” 28:38“It goes back to the path… starting at a place where you’re going to get good experience… you have to put in the time; I think there’s no substitute for that.” 32:12“You’re kidding yourself if you don’t think the practical experience is where the art of coaching begins.” 32:42“Unfortunately, at a young age… you’ve gotta be willing to be mobile.” 32:56“A continual growth mindset has to be your mission.” 33:55“It takes a lot of years, a lot of time, a lot of investment to become an overnight success.” 34:28“Some people assume it’s the best job in the world… you have to understand, it’s very demanding.” 34:53“Develop relationships… to me that’s the biggest challenge at that [pro] level.” 35:52“Some of those guys [professional athletes] are the best compensators in the world.” 36:36“It can be very rewarding to work with those guys, but it’s not always as glamorous as everyone sees it to be.” 36:50