My grandmother, who is the cutest little Ukrainian “baba” (that’s grandmother in Ukrainian), always says to me, “Don’t work too hard.”

To be honest, it always makes me think. I always thought that hard work was the only way that you could accomplish anything in life - on or off the rink. Now I have a very different view on hard work that I wish I had back when I was an aspiring girls hockey player.

Here’s why my view on this has changed…

If you have read my story over on the Total Female Hockey website, you know that my hard work and commitment to becoming the best player possible allowed me to reach the highest levels of women’s hockey. It also caused over a decade of pain, suffering and frustration. I always thought that “More is better”, focusing on doing a higher QUANTITY of work instead of a better QUALITY of work.

I am as guilty as the next person of paying lip service to the slogan “It’s ALL HARD WORK”. But the reality is that when you work hard, and are not relaxed, you’re not very effective.

The best women’s hockey players in the world understand this. All you have to do is watch them in action.

While watching them play, you’ll discover an amazing fact: Even in the heat of battle, even when time is of the essence and the pressure is high - the winners are those who make what they’re doing look easy.

You know why?

Because they practice.

But they don’t just do more and work harder.

They do more and work smarter.

They don’t just practice because they have to. They practice with a purpose. They practice with enthusiasm. They put their body, mind and heart into everything they do and they do it in a relaxed way.

Are you relaxed? Are you enthusiastic? Are you willing to practice more than anyone else?

Then nothing can or will stop you from becoming the most successful female hockey player possible.

Work Smart. Dream BIG.

~ Coach Kim