Back yourself to Win

If anything stands out as most important to your ability to win, it is this – how much you are prepared to back yourself!Back yourself to win beyond sport - Annette Lynch

I talked about it in Persistence that goes on beyond Sport and it deserves repeating and elaborating.

The ability to back yourself stems from belief – belief in yourself and your abilities AND belief in your goal – belief that it is attainable, and that it is important enough.

I have just begun to re-read Think and Grow Rich by Napolean Hill (for about the 5th time) and it’s highly recommended that you read it too.  It emphasises the mindset it takes to succeed – a mindset that anybody can achieve.

If you are here because you are an athlete (current or retired) than you are at advantage.  You have already applied this mindset to your sporting success.  How much you were prepared to back yourself in sport and chase after your dreams, determined how long you stuck at it, and what you achieved.

I will admit, there are some very talented athletes that success can come easily.  However at the first experience of adversity they crack.  They don’t know how to respond, as they have been trained to think it comes easy.

The secret is that it does come easy (sort of), when you stick at it.  It may take some time, you may need to sweat, you may need to train and learn new skills, but you gotta keep going.

To drum it in, I came across this quote by Louis Pasteur this week.

“Let me tell you the secret that has led me to my goal. My strength lies solely in my tenacity.”
Louis Pasteur

Tenacity

It’s my new favorite word as it speaks volumes on what it takes to achieve your goal.

  • Tenacity will help you persist.
  • Tenacity comes from your belief, commitment and desire to achieve a goal.
  • Tenacity will overcome the excuses.
  • Tenacity will cause you to not take NO as an answer.  To keep going until you get what you want.

This mindset is beyond sport.  All successful entrepreneurs have achieved their business success through tenacity.  All intrapreneurs or employees have gotten their dream jobs or been promoted through tenacity.

Tenacity doesn’t have to be grit, sweat and tears.  Tenacity can be a quiet determination and a ‘knowing’ that you will get what you go for.  It reminds me of ‘the eye of the tiger’ as described by first national team volleyball coach:

“The eye of the tiger is a certain approach to the game which utilizes sustained, controlled aggression, and courage.”

Eye of the tiger - sustained, controlled aggression with courage - Success beyond SportSustained – going the distance;

Controlled – aimed in the right direction and with the right intensity for the moment;

Aggression – a forceful action or procedure (as an unprovoked attack) especially when intended to dominate or master.

Courage – ability to do something in spite of fear, to feel the fear and do it anyway!

Even though aggression is commonly defined as ‘hostile’, I think of aggression as taking the initiative to win.  You need to be bold and take action to achievement your goals.  You need to play offense.

Courage can be called upon in the daily tasks you need to accomplish – phone calls, challenging conversations, sales.  Recognize the fear, face it and take action.

I remember a clear moment in my transition from sport when I regained the ‘eye of the tiger’.  I once again had a focus on success – this time in business, and ‘knew’ I could make things happen.  It was with the help of a teacher and coaching that I was able to back myself.

Yes, backing yourself does NOT mean you have to do it alone.  In fact, backing yourself will give you the confidence to find that team that CAN help accelerate your success.

What do you need to back yourself to win again in business and in life?  Who is helping you to regain the eye of the tiger beyond the game?

Please share your thoughts in the comments below.

P.S. Big thanks to my first national team coach, Rob George, who instilled in me the philosophies of the ‘eye of the tiger’ and more.

AuthorAnnette Lynch

Annette Lynch is an Olympian, Inspirational Speaker, Author, NLP Practitioner and Athlete Transition specialist - she has coached, taught and inspired audiences world-wide with her Olympic dream, the champion mindset and her recipe for success. "Success beyond Sport' is her 8-Step guide to redesigning life in a 2nd career, combining Annette's experience with her studies and qualifications as a Master Results Coach and NLP Practitioner. Her book is available on Amazon and Smashwords.