Best of the Best Series
In the world of sports, everyone wants to be the best. There is no room for mediocrity and countless hours are spent working to make even the slightest improvements. While there is no one right way to be at the top, there are several characteristics that show up again and again in the most successful coaches, athletes, and parents of athletes. This series will dive into each one of these – examining what aspects truly matter and how you can work to develop your own skills in these areas.
Before we begin, let us first separate being the “best” and being “successful.” Typically, when you think of the best coaches or athletes, the first thing that comes to mind is their record. How many wins have they accrued? What titles have they achieved? How many rings or trophies do they have? Inherently, being the best is connected to tangible outcomes that we can see, count, and measure.
In contrast, being successful encapsulates a bit more. While it takes into account the accolades, the wins, and the outcomes, it is not based solely on them. Being successful looks at life on a broader scale. Did being the best in sport come at the cost of another aspect of their life? How are they as a person? How do they treat others? How do they carry themselves when they win and when they lose?
Here are some key differences:
A person trying to be the best:
Sacrifices everything in the name of sport with no discernment on whether the sacrifice is necessary or worthwhile
Is perfectionistic and never satisfied with their current level of performance
Struggles to handle failure in any capacity
Often lashes out at others who fail to perform to their perfectionistic standards
Has their entire identity wrapped up in being the best
A person striving to be successful:
Has clarity on the aspects of their life that are important to them
Systematically works to improve themselves within the areas of life that they value
Effectively balances sacrifices and commitment between those aspects
Seeks out consistent progress and improvement, not perfection
Has a well-rounded identity
Being the best feels like a great thing and is something many strive to achieve. However it often lacks the greatness and fulfillment that comes with a more holistic approach. I challenge you to take it a step further and work to become successful.
Start by identifying what aspects in your life (outside of sport) are important to you – health, family, friends, finances, spirituality, etc. Sports typically operate in seasons, so identify what season you are in and prioritize those aspects. Depending on what season you are in, those priorities should move in order of importance. For example, during the season, sport may be number one followed by family. During the off season, maybe family slides up to number one and sport falls down to number four.
Next, list out three things you are doing to support each of these areas and one thing you are doing to make progress towards a better version of you within that area. Use this to make decisions for the next week or so that align with your values, support all of your important life components, and help you make progress in your current priorities.
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