Monday, March 28, 2011

Are You Committed?

The level of commitment you possess and display as an athlete is directly related to your amount of success. All athletes like to think of themselves as committed, dedicated, and willing to do what it takes to succeed. The fact is, however, most athletes are not as committed as they would like to believe. In this article, is it your job to honestly assess whether you are truly showing commitment when it comes to your sport.

"Committed" athletes are willing to do whatever it takes to be successful despite the obstacles. They are dedicated to success above all else and are not deterred in the face of adversity. You may think this is you, but keep reading...Another type of athlete is the "committed until" athlete. They usually do not go to all lengths to be successful, especially where their ego is involved. These athletes show intense dedication, but back down when things do not go their way. They are committed "until" they do not getting the starting position; committed "until" they do not get the minutes they think they deserve; committed "until" one of their teammates calls them out; committed "until" their role on the team is not what they want. Get the picture?

Now that you know the difference, right now, are you a "committed" athlete or "committed until" athlete? It is critical to be honest. Without honesty you will not improve.

It is hard to be a "committed" athlete and we all fall short at times, but you can take the first step today to make the commitment to be committed. This is difficult in the same way that marriage is difficult - you pledge "commitment" no matter what you might face. Unfortunately, many marriages fail because individuals are "committed until" people - committed "until" the pain is too great; committed "until" their partner is not who they thought; committed "until" their partner does not make enough money; committed "until" their partner is not as neat as they want. The list of "untils" goes on and on. 

To be successful, make the commitment to be committed. End of story. To help you remember what commitment looks like, here is a breakdown of what to look for:

Committed Athlete
Dedicated at all costs
Commit to team mission
Commit even when ego bruised
Commit despite pain

Committed Until
Dedicated until not getting what they want
Committed to self over team
Commit only on their terms
Commit only when convenient

Play Smart, Play Hard, Play Well!

What is Your Athletic Vision?

Successful athletes and coaches have a clear vision. This statement is probably not surprising. However, there is a special distinction in the vision of the most elite performers - their vision is not only clear, but they take ownership of it. Anyone can have a dream, but most are afraid to own it because there is a real risk involved in doing so. In owning your goal, you are declaring and acting in a manner in which you are accepting responsibility for the outcome of your goal - for better or worse. You are willing to make mistakes and look the fool, and yes, even in the end, not achieve your vision. But it is inevitable that if you do not take ownership of your vision, you will never accomplish it.
Now is that time of year when many coaches and athletes begin think hard about their goals, and it is now that you have the opportunity to ensure you are not one of those individuals, who, at this time next year sits in regret thinking of what you did not do. So get off your butt and make it happen! Here are some important keys to remember:

1. Find and prioritize your vision - reflect and decide the vision most important to you, the dream or goal that makes your heart beat.

2. Take ownership of your vision - make it clear and vivid. Write it down and share it with important others. If you vision is like a 55-inch High Definition Plasma TV, then you got it. If not, get back to the drawing board and make it clear.

3. Address self-doubts or fears about your vision. Do not run from fear and doubts - bring them into the light and embrace them.

4. Act and behave in ways required to achieve your vision. There are certain things you must do even though they involve risk.

5. Enjoy the ride!

Play Smart, Play Hard, Play Well!