There is no doubt that deliberate and direct practice will offer you a chance to get better – but, you still need the tools. Tweet This! So, how good do you want to be? Let’s talk about some ways to help you get there – wherever you want your goals and dreams to take you.
For example, a plow horse can’t win the Kentucky Derby, but it can become a faster plow horse through proper training. Training endless hours, however, is not the answer. It can be part of the answer, but if all you had to do was put in the time, then anyone could probably be an all-star.
Your goal, regardless of your genetic endowment, is to maximize your potential through practice. It’s not the practice – it’s what you put into the practice – that counts. Your preparation must be mindful, purposeful and directed. You can’t just put in the time and expect to be successful. Tweet This!
Here are five tips to help support your goals for success. Tweet This!
- Limit time spent on activities not directly related to your development.
- Surround yourself only with people vital to your success.
- Be cautious of spending time in the company of others who have negative attitudes, but do not have personal goals. Being around these types of people can deplete your energy levels and bring you down.
- Given the choice between work and play, choose work. Remember the saying – work hard, play hard.
- Take charge of your future. Start closing the gap between where you are and where you want to be.
You can get by on talent and skill for a while, but how you train will affect your success and future. Tweet This! Work smart and you’ll achieve success and extend your career.
If you’re in shape, you can give more effort, avoid injuries and thus, accomplish more work. There are many factors that you cannot control, but you can control how you prepare.
Avoid falling short of the finish line due to poor preparation. There is no reason that you should ever fail at a project or lose a competition just because the opposition was more prepared. Tweet This!
For example, to compete in a championship event, you must give 100 percent from start to finish. Preparation separates success from “what could have been.” Tweet This! Take a look at your peers. How hard are they working? If you’re competing for the same prize but doing less work, something is wrong. Adjust your priorities.
The choice is really up to you. You can work and be the best you can be or you can do just enough to get by. If you take the easier path, however, someday you might end up with regrets about the things you wish you would have accomplished. Something to think about.
Consider these wise words from Cal Ripken, “Along the way, I’ve watched a number of players retire. And they’ve always told me, I wish I had played more, taken better care of myself and taken it more seriously. I wanted to be able to say that I took full advantage of the opportunity. I didn’t want to have any regrets.”
Ripken’s approach was relatively simple – “when you come to the gym or ballpark, be ready to work or play.” The only form of discipline that truly lasts is self-discipline. Tweet This!
Sports Advisory Council Members are compensated for their role on the AdvoCare Sports Advisory Council.
