Mark of a Champ by Lapis Blog entry

Blog: One
by Lapis

Mark of a Champ

Winning is a psychology, an imprent of thought forms that make up "the winner."

Date: 4/3/2006 7:10:48 AM ( 18 y ) ... viewed 1767 times

The Mark of a Champion

Everyone loves to be a champion. But not everyone knows how to be one.
In every endeavor we all say we'll be THE NUMBER 1. But when asked how, we
say, "I'll use my lucky charm!"

Most achievers will answer, "Luck has very little to do with it." Being
Number 1 takes much more than luck. It takes inspiration, persistence,
and faith. Luck is a "nice-to-have."

A professional adheres to four P's. We will share with you these four
P's and if you have what it takes, first congratulate yourself for being a
champion.

1. PRE-PLAN.

Set goals. Devise strategies. Set your course of action, with specific
tasks and corresponding deadlines. The only way you can reach what for you is
the Number 1 position is to have a clear picture of that top slot and
whatever path leads to it.

Your plans must be realistic, though -- achievable. You can't plan on
being the country's representative to the swimming Olympics if you're 40
pounds overweight and the elimination is just a month away -- unless you
starve, but that wouldn't be a good idea. So, plan smart. Put your goals in
writing to add commitment. Some planning takes a little time. It's all right. A
good plan is the first step up the ladder to Number 1.

2. PRACTICE.

Now, with a good scheme in hand, your next step is to work on it. How
Practice, practice, practice. No one becomes a champion swimmer
overnight. Not even ten overnights! It takes months of serious training, dedicated
practice.

And what did Tom Hopkins say "Practice doesn't make perfect. Perfect
practice makes perfect." In other words, there's no sense practicing
something that doesn't work or that doesn't lead you to success. If
your swing is self-taught, and your batting average is so-so, you need
professional help. Then, using the professional, correct, and proven
techniques, you practice, practice, practice, until it becomes second
nature.

3. PERFECT.

This is something that goes beyond practice. This P is shooting for
perfection. Some call it fine-tuning. After you've practiced long and
hard to learn, understand, and rationalize the techniques and skills… after
you've done it a hundred, a thousand times… after you've acquired
"muscle memory" and you can actually do it with your eyes closed… it's then
time to cross the line to perfection. Do not stop practicing until the motion
becomes flawless. Until you can do it flawlessly, every time.

Imagine the magicians who get away with card tricks using
slight-of-hand. They start learning a trick in slow motion, and practice until they can perform it faster and smoother. And when they can do it flawlessly with
their eyes closed, every time, they move on to perfecting the move
until they become confident enough to...

4. PERFORM.

This is the test. The moment that will tell you that you have
succeeded. Everything you planned, practiced, and perfected, will find fulfillment
during the performance. Show your mastery – your skill. Let other
people marvel at your specialty. Make them appreciate your effort and
excellence in the task you have chosen.

You step up to the plate, you come up the stage, or you face your
client, and with full confidence and mastery of skill, you give it all you've
got. Just as you've planned it, exactly as you've visualized it, you
smoothly move from start to finish, and you deliver it flawlessly. The mark of a
winner and true champion.

Many professionals push on to improve on their performance. Every
performance becomes an opportunity to practice, and become even better
– and be the take-off point for bigger tasks and loftier goals. A
professional never ceases to enrich and refine himself. A professional always
seeshimself as a winner and a champion. And a winner is a winner and will continue
to win because he's a champion who doesn't quit.

~Author Unknown~