Coaches Notes

What does it take to get results in your fitness journey? Hard work? Skill? Talent? Genetics?

I am sure there is an argument for all of these. In fact, I doubt I would disagree with any of them, at least on some level. But, I know a lot of people who work hard at a lot of things and don’t have any greater success than those who don’t work that hard. I know a lot of very talented people who have good results but not great.

What is the real difference between super achievers and hard workers? A couple of things. The first is one we would all expect, practice. Now this can’t be just any practice. It has to be focused, intense and monitored practice. Studies show that most people, left to their own design, will spend only a short time working on something they find challenging, and then switch back to something they already have excelled at.

Think about that for a second. Super achievers work on the things they are not good at. For how long? Well, until they become good at them. They find and fix the holes in their game. They do whatever it takes to get the result they are looking for. If I am just an average golfer, I probably have a few parts of my game I am good at and others I will readily admit I am not. “I can hit the ball a mile but it never lands in the fairway,” might be something you would say. Another thing you might hear is, “I can hit it right up to the green, but then it takes me 3 shots to get it on the green.”

The average person will never go to the driving range or the practice green to fix the problems. They just won’t go. Or, they go but only spend a few minutes on what they aren’t good at and then go back to their bag and grab their go-to club and let it rip. Nothing gained, nothing lost. That is most people. The super achievers put in the time and practice, practice, practice on the things they need to get better. But, what is the second thing that separates super achievers from the rest of us?

The answer is a simple one. Coaches, trainers, mentors, and teachers. Super achievers have this support.  Look at our pro athletes, business icons, and truly remarkable citizens; they have people in their lives that push them to do things that are uncomfortable and keep them focused on doing the right things. I can cite study after study, but look around at the super achievers of the world on your own. They all have a network of people to whom they are accountable. There is an old and true tale of 10,000 hours of practice makes you a master at something. Guess what? It’s true. But it is a coach who will challenge you to master that which you haven’t already mastered. Coaches and athletes working together can take someone from good to great.

Some tips for success:
First, commit to the work, the focused practice, that will be required. You will have good days, but you will have bad days along the way. At first, the bad days will outweigh the good. Stick to it and you will see that shift to the good days being more common and the bad days becoming less. Second, go to a place where you can get educated help. Listen, learn and practice, practice, practice. Soon, your results will start to amaze you. Do something different and get different and better results!