“Champions are made from something they have deep inside them—a desire, a dream, a vision. They have to have the skill, and the will. But the will must be stronger than the skill.” -Muhammed Ali
Toughness is the WINNING EDGE… It is built anytime someone does the right thing over feelings, fear, or the easy way. Toughness is a choice and is more mental than physical. I often ask young kids, “Do you have chores and do you enjoy doing them?” There answers are usually a resounding “NO”… I always tell them, “Anytime you do the right thing over your feelings, you just got mentally tougher. You are training your brain and mindset everyday.” This is a life-skill, because, adversity is unavoidable. Athletics can be the greatest way to practice life before we live it.
Successful teams can overcome adversity and difficult situations. They cannot be a group of front-runners that only sell out when it is good. As many coaches say, “We are going to find out what we are made of…” The choice to not quit, stay committed, and keep pushing forward. Those that can display this quality will surpass others quickly. This is also the #1 indicator of highly successful people in the world. Lets break down the 3 truths of toughness…
- TOUGHNESS IS PRE-DETERMINED: We must decide beforehand on how we will respond in situations. Do not wait until the moment of truth to figure out your response. Make up your mind that no matter what… You will fight to the end. Make sure to reframe challenges in your mind. They are not obstacles, but opportunities to prove yourself and grow.
- TOUGHNESS IS A TRAINED SKILL: Training your mindest is no different than training your body. You either get better or worse… We are faced with choices everyday, that require us to overcome feelings. Great players make the choice to do the hard things. Everyone can have toughness… We all have the power to make this decision, not just the chosen few.
- TOUGHNESS DEFINES COMPETITORS: Competitors are truly judged by how they respond to adversity. One of the worst comments for a player is that, “You folded when it got hard.” If you think about the greatest or your favorite players… They show up at the moment of truth. The proof of who you really are as a competitor… Is when it gets hard and adversity strikes.
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