In “Becoming a Champion (Part One) I discussed the importance of seeing / visioning / dreaming about where it is you want to go, or what you want to be…i.e. a champion. I said you had to see it to be it. We talked about definiteness of purpose, the starting point of all greatness, actually being definite about where you want to go or about what or who you want to be. This is the vital first step to moving beyond the plateau you are currently living on and climbing to the higher ground that you desire. The good news is that YOU can do this. The bad news is it’s tough, because it requires CHANGE.
When I ask audiences the question: “Do people like change?” the unanimous answer is “No.” But when we explore that answer, we find that people love positive change. Would you like to lose a few pounds, get in much better shape, double your income, become a better spouse or parent? The answer to all those questions is usually a very strong YES! So what is it that people don’t like about change? They don’t like the transition from point A…where they currently are, to point B, where they want to go, because typically that involves effort and more often than not, at least some discomfort.
In his book, Talent Is Overrated: What Really Separates World-Class Performers from Everybody Else
, Geoff Colvin explains (and backs with a lot of research) that what separates the greats from the rest is deliberate practice — which is HARD WORK. There is no simple, easy, golden key that I can give you that will make you a champion. There is no app that you can use to access champion-ness. And, I think that is a blessing, because being a champion is reserved for those who are willing to pay a serious price. Those who are willing to start a life routine of “Deliberate Practice”…which takes commitment and effort. You are not going to be able to “follow” yourself to become a champion; you are going to have to “LEAD” yourself. And quite frankly, everyone on this planet is a leader, because we all lead the person who is most difficult to lead: OURSELF!
