How Can Jane or Joe Be Like Mike?
Attitude of Elite Athletes
Medium.com:~David Lee Stories$
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What sets elite athletes apart from the average Joe? Is it multiple championship rings? Perhaps a Gold medal in the olympics? What effort and talent is needed to be “The Best of The Best”? Tough question right?
As a past regional and national Karate competitor, i’ve seen and competed against some of the best on the circuit. The one common factor i’ve witnessed from all of these spectacular athletes is their WILL, an indomitable will to work harder than anyone else to be at the top. The hours upon hours of training, nutrition tracking, competing, waking up 2 hours early because your competition won’t. It’s all in their attitude towards work and their understanding that without a strong will to power and consistent work ethic that their dreams will only remain just that — a dream.
Winning in life doesn’t have to be restricted to sports athletes, I believe many people from all walks of life CAN be like Mike — it’s only a matter of how bad do you want it? Whether you’re an aspiring basketball player or executive in your company — it’s attitude that takes the underdog to new heights. Your uncanny strength to push through pain and adversity, to not care what you have to sacrifice (within reason) to be the best at what you do.
Yet, many people fall victim to preconceived notions of what they can and cannot do. It’s scary right? You’re being asked to take an extra 4–5 hours a day to research, study, apply and learn from your failures day in and day out and for what? A chance to make it? A 5% probability that you will succeed? I can see where people simply aren’t willing to take that chance…but remember what Ralph Waldo Emerson once said,
“To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else, is the greatest achievement”.
You cannot allow society to shape your reality and dictate what you can and cannot do in your life. Change your attitude and your perspective and the world around you will have a positive shift in the right direction. Allow yourself to be the team captain, the one whose making the audible plays because he knows in his gut this is the right call. It all goes back to your attitude and having a strong will that is dedicated to winning.
Stories are great are they not?
As a young child the game of basketball always called to me, being a Lakers fan in the early 90’s (you loved them even after years of never making it to the western conference finals) I asked my dad to purchase my first Wilson basketball. Man I can still remember the feel of the ball in my hands shooting basket after basket in my backyard. I wasn’t naturally gifted to shoot, pass or dribble but I LOVED the game and spent any extra time I had after studying and extra curricular activities (which usually meant Piano, learning the abacus and going to Chinese school on Saturdays) devoted to being a better player. Practicing my 3 point shot, setting up drills for pick and rolls and working on my fade away jumper, ala Michael Jordan.
Speaking of Elite athletes, Michael Jordan…one of the best to have ever played the game of basketball wasn’t always the high flying, dunk destroying, championship winning man you may know him for. You may not have known about the hours and hours shooting basket after basket as a young boy to be cut from both the senior and JV team in high school.
That’s right, even the best weren’t always the best. That didn’t stop Mike though, his tenacity to be the best and prove to everyone that he could do it allowed him to cultivate the attitude necessary to go down as one of the greatest athletes of all time. His legacy is secure and will stand the test of time as all legends do.
What I wish to impart you with today friends is this.
NEVER GIVE UP
Change your attitude to one of possibilities, opportunities and optimism. Pessimism and negativity are easy, anyone can be a Debbie Downer. Not everyone can bring up other people and support themselves through their courage and bravery. Be the one who stands out, NOT because you can but because you MUST. It’s the only way to create the path towards success you deserve and will earn, not be given.
Success will come to you if you put in the time, effort and have it backed by a genuine intention to offer solid quality work, whether you’re a personal trainer, team coach or a sales rep at Nordstroms. You get back exactly what you put out.
What’s Stopping You?
Maybe it’s more about who is stopping you? Chances are it’s you that’s stopping you. Sure you can say someone older than you is telling you that you can’t make it, but he/she isn’t the one orchestrating your life. You’re the one on the podium conducted the symphony of your legacy — only you have the power to stop you in your own tracks. Take a moment this week to evaluate where you, where you want to be and in the end,
BE LIKE MIKE — NEVER QUIT ON YOU
With Light and Strength,
David Lee — The P.O.W.E.R Coach
I hope you enjoyed reading this rant, philosophical expression, psycho-something or other post!
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Thanks a bunch and follow me around on my journey as a Powerlifter, Yoga Teacher, Holistic Lifestyle Coach and Techie.
Namaste!
