“Never underestimate the power of dreams and the influence of the human spirit. We are all the same in this notion: The potential for greatness lives within each of us.”
“If you don’t have confidence, you’ll always find a way not to win.”
“Nothing is impossible. All it takes is an imagination.”
Those quotes come from some of the greatest motivators of all time. But not the ones you might think.
They’re actually the words of Olympic athletes, past and present.
Millions of people all over the world have been glued to their TVs this past week, watching the new crop of Olympians display their incredible skills in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil. And aren’t they just amazing? I am never not awestruck watching a swimmer glide effortlessly through the water, or seeing a gymnast twist and twirl in the air with such grace.
But the real story of these remarkable men and women is not simply their physical accomplishments. It’s their mental discipline. They train their mind like they train their body.
The ability to control the mind is, in the end, what separates the good and even the great from the best. That, in the end, is what gets an athlete all the way to ultimate competition.
And, as thrilling as the spectacle is, that, to me, is where the true inspiration of the Olympics lies. Because, although we can’t all be world-class swimmers or gymnasts, we CAN all focus and channel the astounding power of our wonderful “thinking stuff” toward the fruition of our talents, and the achievement of our purpose.
Do you really want to become a champion in your field? Start by taking a page from the playbook of every Olympian:
1. Picture the prize
Many Olympians describe having pictured themselves, in vivid detail, standing on the winners’ platform receiving the gold medal around their necks… long before they ever got there. Sometimes years before. What’s your “gold medal” moment? Do you have a crystal-clear image of it in your mind’s eye? Can you imagine yourself experiencing it: the place, the time, exactly how you’ll feel? GET that picture in your head. Let it be the thing that keeps you going through long days and hard times, and heightens the joy of your victories.
2. Put in the time
Olympians are born with raw physical talent that they nurtured and developed through years and years of practice and hard work. You were born with raw talent, too. Hopefully, you’ve identified yours, and it has given rise to your Purpose and Vision. What things are you doing, day in and day out, whether you feel like it or not, to hone that talent… to become the best? What are your warm-up exercises, your practice runs, your drills? Do you do them religiously? Plenty of phenomenally gifted athletes don’t – and they never get anywhere close to Olympic glory. Their talents are wasted on the wind. So will yours be, if you don’t commit yourself to developing and furthering them, every single day.
3. Partner with a Coach
No athlete makes it to the pitching mound on the little league field, much less to the Olympic games, without the support, guidance, and instruction of a coach. The person who guides and shapes their talents, helps them to set new goals and then pushes them to surpass them, keeps them on top of their mental game, and holds them accountable. Do you realize that this very same sort of partnership is available to YOU? My coaching program has helped thousands of people reach their goals and realize their dreams faster than they ever thought possible. There is nothing as powerful as this kind of intensive, one-on-one experience. It is, quite simply, life-changing.
As you watch these summer games wind up, remember: you, too, can go for the gold. Your medal may look different than the ones worn by this year’s winners, but it’s out there waiting for you. With the right combination of talent, mind work, commitment, and ACTION, you will get it.
To your success,
Bob Proctor
