10 winning behaviors of champions:
1. Champions remember that success is a decision, not a gift.
They decide what they
want and, even more importantly, why they want it. To quote a wise
friend, "Look deep inside yourself and find out what your passion really
is." Yes, you might be worried about failing (or even just not being
able to remove your wet suit), but face those fears. Champions try.
We should all have an ambitious, yet realistic, vision that inspires and excites us.
2. Champions document and communicate their goals.
Tell your friends, make
it your screen saver or stick Post-it Notes everywhere. And set
intermediate goals along the way, celebrating when you reach them!
3. Champions make choices.
Mediocrity is a choice.
Excellence is a choice. Seeking excellence in every part of your life is
a conscious decision -- so I would urge you all to do your best at
whatever you do, whether it's walking the dog, loading the dishwasher,
running or listening to a friend in need.
(Keep in mind that excessive doughnut consumption is probably something we should all choose not to excel at.)
4. Champions have a plan.
Reaching the finish line
of any race requires a focused, detailed strategy. As an athlete I arm
myself with information -- about different training methods, nutrition,
my competitors, race courses, how to avoid chafing. You name it, I've
read about and (in the case of Vaseline) applied it, and then have used
the info to devise my training program.
5. Champions tackle their weaknesses and strengths.
They view training
holistically; swim/bike/run sessions are not more or less important than
nutrition, strength training, muscle massages, relaxation and life
balance.
6. Champions lean on others.
A champion knows he or
she is not an island. It was hard for me, as a fiercely independent
person, to depend on others, but I couldn't have achieved what I did
without support.
The word "competitor" is
taken from a Latin root meaning to "seek together" -- with help I
learned to dig deeper and discover reserves I never knew existed.
7. Champions accept change.
If you risk nothing,
then you risk everything. For me, it wasn't simply about winning -- it
was about being the best I could be. That meant being prepared to
assess, adapt, evolve and even take calculated risks. This might include
trying a new coach, a new training location or a new technique.
"If you always do what
you've always done, you'll get what you always got." That doesn't mean
blindly adopting every new innovation -- sometimes simple, time-honored
techniques are best -- but the key is to avoid getting permanently stuck
in a rut.
8. Champions prepare for the worst and hope for the best.
In an ideal world,
everything goes as planned. But that's a utopia.
I have sunk in the swim,
had bike failures, catapulted over crash barriers and relieved my GI
tract in bushes. It's these mishaps and mistakes that help us learn and
grow. They help us become slightly wiser, slightly stronger, slightly
bolder and much more determined.
9. Champions keep things in perspective.
Win, lose or sink,
triathlon shouldn't define you. Your emotions should never be solely
wedded to a specific outcome.
10. Champions stay positive.
There are occasions when
even the most cup-overflowing individuals get down in the dumps -- but
an ability to trade "I can't," for "I can," to believe in yourself and
all that you are is what makes true champions.
