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To excel as a top performer you must be hungry- hungry for success, for results – hungry simply to become the best athlete you can be. It starts with a dream, but somehow you must be inspired, or you will never be able to reach your goal.
What are the key characteristics of well-motivated athletes? Through my extensive work with numerous athletes over several years, I have developed a constellation of traits that defines the champion’s mentality. Elite athletes do not possess superhuman powers or extraordinary qualifications limited to a selected few. The characteristics that make a champion can be attained and developed by ANYONE who wants to excel in a sport:
Enthusiasm and Desire - Love for Your Sport: Top athletes have a hunger, a fire inside which fuels their passion to achieve an important goal, regardless of their level of talent or ability. To accomplish anything of value in life you need to begin with some kind of vision or dream. The more clearly you can see that picture in your mind, the more likely it is to become reality. Wherever you place your attention, your energy will follow.
Courage to Succeed - Once an athlete has the desire, he or she needs to back it up with courage – the incentive to make any dream you dare to dream become reality. It takes courage to sacrifice, to work out when you’re tired, to seek out tough competition when you know you’ll probably lose. It takes courage to stick to your game plan and the relentless pursuit of your goal when you encounter obstacles. It takes courage to push yourself to places that you have never been before – physically or mentally. It takes courage to test your limits, and to break through barriers.
Internal motivation and self-direction - Champion athletes decide early on that they are training and competing for themselves, not for their parents, their coaches, or for the medals. Direction and drive need to come from within. The goals must be ones that you have chosen because that’s exactly what you want to be doing. Ask yourself, what keeps you running? Who are you doing it for?
Commitment to Excellence - How good do you want to be? Elite athletes know that to excel at their sport, they must decide to make it a priority in their life. They make an honest effort each day to be the best at what they do. At some point you must say, I want to be really good at this; I want this to work. To notice significant growth you must live this commitment and regularly stretch what you perceive to be your current limits.
Discipline, Consistency, Organization - Winning athletes know how to self-energize and work hard on a daily basis. Because they love what they do it is easier for them to maintain consistency in training and in competing. Regardless of personal problems, fatigue, or difficult circumstances, they can generate the optimal amount of excitement and energy to do their best.
Being focused and yet relaxed - Champions have the ability to maintain concentration for long periods of time. They can tune in what’s critical to their performance and tune out what’s not. They can easily let go of distractions and take control of their attention.
Ability to handle adversity: Top athletes know how to deal with difficult situations. Adversity builds character. When elite athletes know the odds are against them they embrace the chance to explore the outer limits of their potential. Rather than avoiding pressure they feel challenged by it. They are calm and relaxed under fire. Setbacks become an opportunity for learning; they open the way for deep personal growth.
Dr. JoAnn Dahlkoetter , at www.DrJoAnn.com best-selling author of YOUR PERFORMING EDGE™, on OPRAH and NBC-TV, is CEO of Performing Edge Coaching International Association, (www.PerformingEdgeCoach.com) Stanford Performance Consultant, sports psychologist to OLYMPIC Gold Medalists and CEOs, winner of the San Francisco Marathon and 2nd in the World Championship Hawaii Ironman Triathlon. She is Host of the internationally syndicated TV Show, “Your Performing Edge”, a renown Keynote Speaker, columnist, and TV expert commentator.
Dr. JoAnn provides corporate training and Performing Edge Coach programs for sports, business, wellness, to reach your highest potential life. FREE Book chapter at: http://sports-psych.com/book_order.html
To download Dr. Dahlkoetter’s FREE Private Mentoring Program to reach Your Performing Edge with coaching, video training tips and valuable articles at: www.drjoann.com/2009/12/tips/ , or for your Custom Peak Performance Visualization MP3 Audio made personally for you, call 650-654-5500. www.DrJoAnn.com.