How You Think Is Everything. Be Positive. Think success, not failure. Beware of a negative environment. There are two types of people, those who say I can’t and those who say I can. Don’t watch the game, be in the game. The will to peruse success in athleticism is not shared by the greater majority of our society so embrace it; you are different and represent that 1%. Following the herd is a sure way to mediocrity. Don't let other people or things distract you. Do not just cruise but challenge yourself to bring your A game and take performance to another level. Keep your head in the game.
Pursue Life’s Goals. Write down your specific goals and develop a plan to reach them. A reason to believe, even against poor odds, is enough to stay focused on reaching a successful outcome.
Take Action. Goals are nothing without action. Don't be afraid to get started. Just do it! Take responsibility. Be persistent. Be dependable. Be consistent. Address skill issues with training. Work hard. Success is a marathon, not a sprint. If things go well, look through the window for someone to praise; if things go bad look in the mirror to assess your own impact on the results and what you can do to correct it.
Learn to Analyze Details. Get all the facts, all the input. Learn through experience and learn from your mistakes. Ask a peer or a coach for meaningful feedback, explicit to understand exactly what you should do more of or less of. Commit to being the best at what you do, perfecting even the smallest task. Everything worth doing is worth doing well. Choose the discipline you are passionate about, go deep into what you choose and study, study, study sharing ideas and thoughts with your peers. Doing this homework is an acquired skill. Cherish not just the physical aspect but the intellectual dimension of our sport.
Manage your Time. We all have scheduling considerations in our lives. Family, health, work, climate, hobbies, social involvement, church - you name it, they all influence our daily decision making on where you spend your time. Evaluating your triathlon objectives within this context is a very deliberate act that each of us must undertake. Balancing all these considerations is a two way street – both triathlon and the non-triathlon commitments have needs for your time. Things work out really well when there are many points of intersection between the two. Conversely, it isn't always a happy story when the two lack alignment. Frequently, there is a frustrated and overwhelmed athlete in the middle of these moments. If you find yourself in that moment, step back and do the analysis. What are your most important considerations in your life? What environment gives me the best chance to line up all these priorities? Which considerations am I most ready to sub-optimize to preserve another? The formula is different for each of us. In fact, the formula may be different for each of us at different times in our lives. My message is very simple, be deliberate about your decision making and don't just let your environment dictate your circumstances. We all have the freedom of choice, just be deliberate about the choices you make. There is no doubt that a good athlete carefully looks for time management opportunities and deliberately plans where he wishes to spend his limited resources.
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