Last week we examined the first two characteristics which mark successful athletes. I strongly suggest reading our previous blog, Consistency is Key – Part 1, to gain a better understanding of the current discussion if you have not done so already. This week, we explore the importance of keeping the right mindset and how attention to detail can have an influence on our success as competitors. Something I mentioned at the start of last week’s blog was that we should rethink the saying “consistency is key” as being too much of a cliché. I challenge you to keep that saying in the back of your mind while reading and decide for yourself if it really is a silly saying. Without further ado, here is part II!

3. Consistent Mind

I would not be truthful if I didn’t acknowledge that I’m biased in the whole “mindset” department. That said, when we have our minds in the right place day in and day out, we set ourselves up for success. The trick is getting our minds wired to perform consistently. This can be done by thinking about competition as a process. That is to say that we understand there will be highs and lows which come with competing. By accepting (and trusting) the process, we can begin taking the proper steps and risks needed to compete more consistently. I preach to all my athletes the importance of having a next-play-mentality. There are going to be times when we miss a play or don’t perform as expected- that’s alright. The name of the game is being able to move on from a missed opportunity and focusing on your next task at hand.

As athletes, we are often thrown into uncomfortable situations while competing. When we have a lot on the line, we also have this tendency to start letting our emotions get the best of us. As soon as our emotions run too high, we usually begin to feel the pressure and become overwhelmed. The main issue here is that sensation of being overwhelmed causes our emotions to become too strong, and we REACT. Somehow, we need to keep our minds PRESENT while going through that adversity. As soon as we get into the habit of staying PRESENT, we have this unique ability to RESPOND. By RESPONDing to adverse conditions, we are able to strengthen the ability to achieve similar levels of success in the future. So how can we improve our chances of formulating a level of consistent competition? We can improve our levels of consistency by using mental imagery! By continuously utilizing MST techniques like imagery, we bridge that mind-body connection.

4. Consistent Preparation

This last marker is crucial in characterizing a successful athlete. These high performers all have something in common- they prepare early and often. The constant preparation doesn’t just start before a game and then stop. The preparation takes place to get ready for competition and continues afterward. Sure, there might be a short time where there is a small break, but that’s just to give ourselves a chance to briefly evaluate our performance. Maybe something didn’t go as planned during competition, and we have to find another way to solve the puzzle for next time. During this time, it’s also important to maintain the rest of your life to ensure everything stays consistent. So, what does that mean for us on the day of competition? We need to stick to our routine that we’ve laid out for ourselves.

We are all creatures of habit and feel most comfortable when following a routine. When someone follows their routine ahead of competition, they are setting themselves up for achieving high levels of athletic success. For example- if your routine includes eating lots of carbs and getting 8 hours of sleep each night before your race, you wouldn’t skip dinner the night before and get 5 hours of sleep instead. Everything you do- from the night before the day of competition to what you do when you arrive at the field will have an influence on your performance. This is the final part of the puzzle that we see exemplified in sport. A great example of this is when Lebron James throws up the chalk before tip-off.

Now I’m not saying that you should throw chalk all around the place while shooting hoops. What I am saying is that when we follow our routine, we are able to achieve amazing things. By paying attention to detail and staying disciplined, we can all move forward and get to where we want to be. That’s the thing that separates the high performers from those who just like the idea of being successful- you need to want it. It can be a hard pill to swallow, but mediocre effort doesn’t cut it. If you truly want to be great at something, you’ll work as hard as you need to until you get to where you want to be. Then the process starts again because we’re never truly done. We are constantly trying to become better versions of ourselves. We can’t be great without first being consistent in all we do. Let your constant effort consume you.

Greatness is a decision, so adapt and conquer.