COLUMN: Lessons from successful athletes
For the past 30 years I have chosen to study people for a living. Not people who do things in an average way, but people who do things in an extraordinary way. I have had the privilege to learn from and converse with people who have chosen to pursue excellence. One of the characteristics of these individuals is that they are not selfish, but generous. In fact, their generosity includes sharing the secrets of their success with others. Therefore I have chosen to share some of their insights with you.
Great performers learn to think and play in the present. If you live your life in the past or the future, many times this brings feelings of anxiety and doubt to the forefront. In psychology, we call this compartmentalizing your life. Whatever you are presently engaged in you must do so with full attention.
Another characteristic of successful people is to learn to forgive and accept making mistakes. Mistakes are inevitable in life and therefore can be valuable tools to use in order to move ahead. If you fail, you are not a failure. You must learn to put adversity in perspective so that you may improve your performance. Likewise, rather than avoiding potentially difficult challenges, you learn to embrace the pressure of the task. You learn to respond to adversity rather than to react to it.
Finally, great performers play toward a goal rather than away from trouble. These performers have extraordinary imaginations that allow them to see possibilities where others see only roadblocks. They keep the game in perspective as it relates to life. Sports and athletics are very public domains, where all involved are exposed to criticism and praise. These athletes learn to rely on internal feedback rather than depending on others to supply an often embellished reputation.
I would like to finish by sharing a Jesse Owens quote with you that summarizes my experiences in this exciting field.
“In the end, it’s extra effort that separates a winner from second place. But winning takes more than that, too. It starts with fundamentals. Then it takes desire, determination, discipline and self-sacrifice. And finally, it takes a great deal of love, fairness, and respect for your fellow man. Put all these together, and even if you don’t win, how can you lose?”
Richard Gordin is a professor in physical education who specializes in performance methods and behaviors of athletes.