Take Your Mark
Coaching Tip #37
Maybe these are familiar words to you, or maybe they’re not.
These words echo back to my time as a swimmer. As swimmers, we heard them regularly – both in practice simulations of a race and when everything was on the line. They were the last words said before the starting gun went off. At that point, it was you against your physical body, your mental state of mind, and the field you were competing against.
You were clear on what success meant at that moment: faster than your past time, or scoring points for your team while simultaneously beating everyone else in the field, including your teammates. There were good outcomes and bad outcomes, but whenever you stood on those blocks, you had no option but to go. There was no standing down. The preparation was over. It is a lesson I carry with me today.
Preparation matters!
It’s the work you put in. The overcoming of disappointments. The lessons learned, and taking responsibility for your actions. It’s knowing when to ask for help and knowing when to lend a hand. It’s accepting a fear, realizing there are no guarantees, and then finding the courage to try anyway.
Each of these things, and many more, contribute to performance. All of them build a belief that you can accomplish the goal. Control as many of them as you can, and accept that curveballs will come your way. Life is far from perfect. There are always bumps along the way.
To get through those challenges, start by accepting with humility your own imperfection. Let go of perfection. It’s an illusion that inhibits learning. Instead, embrace your obstacles as part of your preparation. And ask yourself some tough questions.
Can I articulate what I am trying to prepare for? (The clearer you understand your why, the more able you will persevere when a bump occurs.)
At what stage can I step up on the blocks and give it a go? (There is nothing like putting yourself out there. Let go of your expectations. Being prepared for what you want requires a series of trials and errors.)
What are some benchmarks I can check off along the way?
What the challenges I’ll encounter, and how will I deal with them?
Preparation is not about victory. It’s about knowing you have done the work. And it’s about realizing that hard work can and will take you places – some that you dreamt of and some you could never imagine.
Melinda