Vol. XXXX

Dear Manager,

At a very early age, most likely on the playground, we learned how to compete. Little did we know that we were establishing a foundation for today’s success. We learned that to be a winner we will not always win. We learned that having lost, we are not necessarily a loser. Read this a second time. I believe that down in the deepest recesses of our spirit, we have never fully accepted this absolute truth. This is the same competitive spirit that drives us all. While we might say we are competing with others, truth be told, we are only competing with ourselves.

Based on the many correlations I have drawn between sports and business, one might assume that I have enjoyed an illustrious relationship with competitive sports. Unfortunately, I was young for my grade and washed out of organized team sports after my freshman year. I have since enjoyed individual sports, re-living the elusive dramatic moves of my youth, though only my wife shows enthusiasm for my occasional success. My greatest understanding of sport has come from business…

Like it or not, we are all competitors. We all aspire to be one of the best at what we do, for some … it’s to be a champion. The essential aspects of life, nourishment, housing and simple pleasures, all require that we compete. It is a burning desire that motivates all of us. Take that burning desire, increase its intensity ten-fold, and you can begin to understand the heart of a champion. We can all learn from this intensity, regardless of our desire to embrace the many demands and sacrifices required.

Yes, there is a price to being a champion. Champions can be very one dimensional in nature. Outside their area of expertise it may even be difficult for them to carry on a conversation. Relationships often suffer; one’s self-serving, driving sense of accomplishment may not be at the top of another’s list of priorities. We have all seen the down side risk, yet are still intrigued by a champion.

SHOW ME THE EYE OF A CHAMPION

Have you ever noticed the eyes of a Champion? In a competitive environment, and without a single word, their eyes will reflect an intense resolve and quiet confidence. These individuals have a clear respect for their competition. Rarely will the voice of a champion feel the need to boast, let alone justify their greatness. Those who do must back it up with achievement. Performance is the only standard. It is the single voice of their accomplishment.

A. The quiet confidence of a Champion is founded on the premise that we all compete on a level playing field. We all enjoy an equal opportunity to enjoy greatness. Certainly we all enjoy varied strengths and weaknesses, just like those of a Champion! It’s not that this life provides only a few of us with shortcomings. A Champion looks to how she or he can enhance and take even greater advantage of their strengths, while at the same time minimizing their vulnerability and improving upon their weaknesses.

B. The belief system of a Champion is something to behold. Does the Pope believe? Let me tell you, so does the Champion! With every fiber of their spirit, this individual believes in the ability to ultimately control the outcome. Will there be major road blocks? Will there be nay-sayers? Will there be setbacks? Count on it. These individuals understand adversity, and cut through to the heart of the obstacle!

C. These individuals take nothing for granted. I would go so far as to say they live with a real sense of paranoia relating to their competition. They have personally found the keys to the gates of greatness … others must be in hot pursuit!?! (Butterflies are simply an additional motivational tool.) Discipline at its highest level can best describe their work habits. In the back of their mind they can’t help wondering who might be working to close the gap …while they sleep.

D. These individuals have thrown out all previously accepted standards relating to work ethic. These individuals reach for infinite performance. Did anyone ever believe we’d break a four minute mile or add another revolution to a double lutz? Clearly there are no boundaries! These individuals understand one of their greatest advantages is the competition’s willingness to accept current standards relating to greatness.

E. A Champion is a great daydreamer. A complete visualization carries him or her thorough the rough spots. This individual will often lose all sense of reality between the feelings of future accomplishment and the feelings of actual accomplishment after the fact. A sixth sense develops that allows them to genuinely feel the other five senses in advance of the accomplishment. These individuals can smell it … they can taste it!

F. Finally, these individuals understand the only true competition. It can be found in their own personal resolve and in the depths of their own spirit. Nothing will come between their human ability to succeed and their ultimate success. These individuals assume full and total control for the results. A day of less than their own standards of perfection is of their own doing, and a result of choices they have made.

Very few in life will accept the sacrifices demanded by peak performance. There is no divine or personal responsibility to do so. Can you possibly imagine the log jam at the top? We can all learn a great deal from the heart of a champion. Being a student of those at the top is the first step toward bridging the gap. We’ve all seen individuals take a shot at those who have attained higher performance than themselves. It’s much safer to minimize and cheapen the accomplishments of others than to acknowledge one’s own shortcomings.

We would all like to hold the brass ring at least once in our lifetime! The keys to our own Championship are in our ability to identify our own shortcomings, put aside all ego and insecurities, and rush to the front of the line to …

… LEARN FROM THE VERY BEST

There is such a huge resource available if we wish to become a student of our chosen profession. It is much easier to become complacent with our own acceptable levels of accomplishment. Watch for speakers of distinction, take additional training, read biographies of those you admire. Search out the assistance of individuals through whom you can find personal growth. Buy them lunch once a month, hire them as a coach or personal assistant, ask probing questions dealing with areas of contrasting approach and style. What better investment could an individual make?

There is not a reader (or author) reading this today that does not have their own bag of shortcomings. It’s time, once and for all, to drive a Mack truck through them. This is the heart of a Champion, this is the difference between losing and being a loser … winning and being a winner.

Personal Regards,

Keenan

INTERPERSONAL© is published by INTERPERSONALBIZ.COM, Keenan Longcor, Editor, ©2009. Duplication of this publication is permitted for both personal and business use. Excerpts may only be quoted with acknowledgment of INTERPERSONAL/INTERPERSONALBIZ.ORG as the source. For re-publication rights, please contact the editor at KEENAN@INTERPERSONALBIZ.COM