My grandson has a martial arts tournament today. He has been training very hard, practicing, eating right and preparing mentally for the matches. As I wrote a text to him this morning, I was reflecting on an issue that many athletes have: they spend way too much time focusing on the outcome. I hear people say “when I win this game, we are going to State” or “when I sink this putt, I will win the tournament.” They put the emphasis on “winning” or “accomplishing”.
The reality is we need to focus on each very specific moment of the event. For my grandson, every kick, every punch, every defensive tactic is a critical moment. He is prepared, he has trained very hard and he is ready. He now just needs to be “in the moment” with his opponent and rely on his knowledge, skills and abilities to bring him success.
The same is true in your work life and your relationships. It’s not always the most talented or gifted people that succeed in life. Nine times out of ten, it’s the people that are not afraid to “grind”. They put in the effort, day after day, they bring a positive and supportive attitude to the workplace. And they focus on the tasks at hand, doing the best they can. They WILL make mistakes at work, they WILL have an argument with a loved one, they may not get the compliment they think they deserve or the promotion or raise that they thought they were going to receive. But true champions, in sports or in life, learn from every situation. They pick themselves up, apply what they learned from the experience, and prepare for the next “round”.
Goals and expectations are very important, as they give us something to look forward to. But in real life, many times we don’t always get what we want. The secret is to observe our heroes (or mentors), learn what it is that makes them great, then figure out a way to apply it in your own life. But resilience and perseverance are going to be key to any long term success. Are you ready to commit?
I’m happy to share more insight into ways to learn more, just let me know!
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