You Cannot Do it Alone
If you were looking to start your own business, would you take the risk of doing it all yourself? No, at least I hope not. You would seek out the advice of someone...
Achieving Excellence
Excellence is not achieved through a single act. It is an accumulation of daily activities and behaviors that align with a singular goal. The saying "Rome was not built in a day" perfectly encapsulates this idea. Nobody starts at greatness. We all begin from our own starting points, and through vision, accumulated actions, and driven purpose consistently applied day in and day out, we develop the habits that lead to excellence.
Personal Observations and Experiences
From my experience with clients who have broken records in powerlifting—whether it's a state or world record, or even becoming a world champion—I've seen that success does not happen overnight. It is the result of repeated behaviors rather than a single effort. It's not just about training; you must have the appropriate mindset and daily actions that align with your goal, including your self-created identity. True success involves aligning your identity with your goal of excellence.
Our identity is shaped by our actions, and every decision we make casts a vote for the person we want to become. Each choice, no matter how small, contributes to the larger narrative of who we are and how we show up in the world. We can consciously choose this identity through positive self-talk, affirmations, and aligning our actions—which influence our beliefs about ourselves—or we can let our current habits and decisions unconsciously define us.
Achieving excellence in sport isn't just about intense training sessions or adhering to the "right" training plan; it's about cultivating a comprehensive set of habits that support your goals. This journey involves maintaining a consistent sleep schedule, ensuring adequate recovery, fueling your body properly, and engaging in mental practices like visualization and mental rehearsal. While performing the challenging work to achieve any goal is essential, excellence is cultivated over time through consistent efforts across all these areas.
By consciously choosing actions that align with your desired identity and goals, you actively shape your path to excellence. This alignment ensures that every step you take is purposeful and directed towards achieving your highest potential.
When you hear about the façade of "overnight success," it's like seeing the tip of an iceberg. What you don't see is the massive amount of work that was put in to reach that point. This is a concept I'm constantly reminded of as I explore new areas such as business, marketing, or even fitness. There's always more to learn, and revisiting information often provides new insights as our understanding deepens.
Developing the Right Mindset
To achieve excellence in any field, we must maintain a "white belt mentality"—an open mind ready to learn and hear ideas that might challenge our original thoughts. This mindset is crucial for continuous growth and adaptation. As Bruce Lee wisely said, “Absorb what is useful, discard what is useless, and add what is specifically your own.”
This quote serves as a profound guide, emphasizing three key practices:
Absorb What Is Useful: Actively seek out diverse sources of knowledge. Identify and retain what is directly beneficial to your goals. Implement the useful knowledge you’ve gathered in your daily routines, and stay updated with the latest advancements in your field.
Discard What Is Useless: Be discerning and discard outdated, ineffective, or irrelevant information. Focus on core principles and practices that maximize efficiency and ensure continuous improvement.
Add What Is Specifically Your Own: Customize your approach by integrating your personality, values, and unique perspective into your learning and work. Regular self-reflection and ownership of your journey will help you contribute fresh ideas and foster innovation.
Maintaining this mindset involves being willing to start from scratch, to be a beginner again, and to approach every new challenge with curiosity and humility. Excellence is not just about what you achieve, but how you achieve it—through continuous learning and adaptation.
Call to Action
I encourage you to reflect on your daily habits. Are your actions aligned with your goals for excellence? What small, consistent steps can you take today to move closer to your vision of success? Remember, excellence is not a destination but a journey.
Have you found yourself struggling to take that first step towards your goals?
What small changes can you make in your daily routine to cultivate the habits that lead to excellence?
Reflect on these questions, and challenge yourself to take actionable steps toward your goals every day. For instance, you might start by setting a consistent bedtime, incorporating a short daily meditation, or planning your meals ahead of time.
In the pursuit of excellence, every small effort counts. Start today, and stay consistent. You'll be amazed at the progress you can make over time.
