The world is loaded with “wanna bees” and people who “talk a good game.” However, the world has very few characters that mean what they say and then go about the business of making it happen. If you do not believe me then just look around you and decide for yourself whether what I say is true or not.
I recently started working with a young man who is very accomplished as an athlete and as business man. He has made the connection (at age 24) with vision, hard work, and success. This is a very unique individual for this age which also makes the pursuit of his success even more fascinating. This is the type of individual that I love to work with. Somebody who wants to accomplish what they set out to accomplish.
In the last weeks I have extolled the virtues of being a successful bodybuilder and how it will make this young man even better as a person if he continues and if he works to be a winner. After a week or two, he sends me a text to tell me that he has decided to be a champion and that he wants me to train him. He thinks he can be ready for the stage in one year. Since that text message we have trained together daily and with each workout he has demonstrated that he is very serious about being that champion of the sport he has chosen. His work ethic will never exceed mine (so says the self proclaimed guru) but he pushes me as hard as anybody else does. I am very stoked to be his mentor.
This story is used to lay the foundationation for my discussion on “Becoming a Champion.” First, to become a champion we have to decide that being a champion is worth it. All possible costs need to be considered and we have to decide that paying these costs will be made. Nothing is free in this world. Somebody has to pay for anything received or attained. I would recommend that before we launch ourselves toward a goal that we spend a ton of time examining the goal and all that will be required to get there. Sometimes, writing out on a sheet of paper all the variables that will be encountered along the way with some thought given to how any obstacles will be overcome.
Secondly, a plan of action must be developed to give us direction and a timeline along which we must travel to our goal. Spending some time putting this into place is essential. A target must be put into play or we will hit nothing. Thhe old addage, “He who aims for nothing hits it everytime” will carry the day if we are careless about what we want and how we are going to get it.
Thirdly, we must begin in earnest. Each step we take has to be unidirectional. There can be no side stepping obstacles or retreating away from our stated destination. Each day and every work session must have a sense of urgency about them to move us smartly along the trail to our goal. Nothing can get in our way.
Lastly, we must determine that nothing will stand in our way. All effort must be focused on the end game. We should be reading tons of motivational articles and listening to our favorite counsellors and heroes to keep us on track. Nothing is left to chance. We have to dream of winning even when we are awake.
These are the basic steps to being a Champion. Consider them and do them and you too will be counted among the best there ever was.
Until next time! This is “OUR TIME”
Douglas E. Graham, Lt Col, USAF, (ret), MHSM
Six Pack and Senior 