Champion Minded : Unleash Your Inner Athlete

Are you an athlete ? While it seems easy to answer this question, the true depth of this word lies in the multitude of factors at play.

Let me first introduce you a simple definition from Wikipedia :

“An athlete (also sportsman or sportswoman) is a person who competes in one or more sports involving physical strength, speed, power, or endurance.”

Simple right ? If you play a sport, then you are an athlete.

But wait, there’s another paragraph after :

“Athletes may be professionals or amateurs. Most professional athletes have particularly well-developed physiques obtained by extensive physical training and strict exercise accompanied by a strict dietary regimen.”

While the first one only focuses on the physical aspects, the latter starts to delve into the more unseen and vital features that defines an athlete.

Let’s have a closer look at the second statement :

The first thing I want to talk about is the “physical training and strict exercise” :

Obviously, if you don’t train yourself at something, nobody’s ever call you an athlete. You may play or be passioned by any sports, you have to train on a regular basis.

Now, the element that really stands out to me is “strict dietary regimen”. The man on the photo above has probably been following an intensive trainig program but most importantly a rigorous nutrition plan. A diet goes beyond your sport area, court or whatever. It involves essential qualities that separate a great athlete from the average one.

I’m not going to present you how an athlete defines himself through his achievements, which could great because that’s very gratifying and that’s a strong argument. Instead, I’m going to concentrate on the central element from which all qualities and results stem : the mindset.

Before I start uncovering all great athletes secrets, I have to mention another point in the definition : “Athletes may be professionals or amateurs”. So, wether you are a professional athlete who practices 4 hours a day or you just a person who exercices once a week, you will find strong inspirations on this article and the book.

Allistair Mccaw is a consultant and mentor for athletes, coaches, teams and organizations. He is a 29 time marathon finisher and former 5 time World Championship competitor in the sport of Duathlon. A prolific writer, Allistair has authored numerous best-selling books, with Champion Minded standing out among them.

Usually, I am not a big fan of “self-development” books. When I received this, I was kind of skeptical. Is it going to be like all those publications ?Where you find nothing but unrealistic phrases such as : “you are the best!” or “you are going to be a millionaire tomorrow!”. I think Champion Minded is more than that. It shows the harsh reality of an athlete life, the behind the scenes. Although it doesn’t really go very deep into a specific subject but it could be a first approach for that athlete mindset.

The book is divided into seven chapters :

• Preparing to Train
• Learning to Train
• Developmental Training
• Competitive Training
• Before Training
• During Competition
• After Competition

As we can see, the it follows an athlete during his journey from preparation to competition. Mccaw gives fundamental principles along with real examples of champions throughout his work that you have to apply. You can find great champions like Kobe Bryant, Cristiano Ronaldo, Serena Williams… However, the way they tailor their habits shouldn’t necessarily be how you need to proceed. You need to structure your own journey.

I’m going to provide further insight into two principles that I find the most essential and easy to grasp for any kind of athlete or person.

Instant Gratification vs Life Satisfaction :

Stay patient yet persistent in the pursuit of excellence

Generally, instant gratification refers to the desire for and the process of obtaining immediate rewards or fulfillment without delay. It can be observed in various aspects of life, such as consumption choices, decision-making, and the use of technology. For example, when someone uses his phone instead of working he produces dopamines that triggers his reward system.

In sport, phenomenon is very applicable. I going to present you a quote that summarizes perfectly this situation by a former world number one golfer, Jason Day :

So many players get impatient and don’t embrace the everyday process. They want results quickly. To be at the top level [of any sport], you need to endure the boring stuff and do that consistently.

So any athletes want to win now at the expanse of a bigger improvement. They look for small rewards instead of big successes. I don’t say that you can’t seek instant reward but ask you this question :

Could there be a more significant success if I wait for a later time?

Sometimes you will have to regress to rise your potential. Don’t hesitate to make major changes because you afraid of losing your skills for a short period. Einstein said : “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results”.

I think the best example in sport is doping :

Imagine an individual decides to use anabolic steroids to enhance their athletic performance quickly. They might experience rapid muscle growth, increased strength, and faster recovery times, providing an immediate boost to their athletic abilities. This instant improvement can be gratifying, and the individual may see immediate results in competitions or workouts.

However, the use of steroids for instant gratification can lead to severe long-term consequences. Prolonged use of steroids may result in health issues such as cardiovascular problems, liver damage, hormonal imbalances, and psychological effects. Moreover, there’s the risk of addiction and dependency. In the long term, the initial gains might be overshadowed by the detrimental impact on overall health and well-being.

It underscores the importance of considering the long-term consequences and opting for sustainable approaches to athletic performance and fitness.

Discipline enables individuals to resist the temptation of immediate rewards in favor of delayed but more substantial gratification. It involves the ability to control impulses and make thoughtful decisions. It cultivates self-control, which is crucial for resisting the allure of instant gratification.

Always try to work towards the greater goal and remember :

The journey to greatness is a marathon not a sprint.

Opposite breeds of athletes :

He distinguishes two types of athletes : growth minded and fixed minded athletes.

Growth minded athletes are athletes who seek constant improvements, embrace obstacles.

Fixed minded athletes stay in their comfort zone and give up easily.

That’s really the difference here. Growth minded athletes will always keep a positive attitude no matter what happens to them, taking failure as a lesson to grow even more. A fixed minded is usually defeatist.

Growth mindsets emphasize discipline while fixed mindsets listen to their passions and emotions.

Real athletes are eager to work on their weaknesses and sharpen their strengths where the fixed minded athletes view their skills as unchangeable talents.

Champion Minded offers valuable advice and lessons tailored for athletes. While some concepts may be familiar, the diverse perspectives presented can provide fresh insights. It also serves as a motivational source on your journey to success.

Even if you’re not an athlete, the principles shared transcend sports and are applicable to life, emphasizing the importance of mindset.

To finish here are a couple quotes that I love in this book :

Rudyard Kipling :

If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster/And treat those imposters just the same.

Allstair Mccaw :

When you’re cruising, you’re losing !

Admiral William McRaven :

If you want to change the world, start off by making your own bed.

John Wooden :

Be more concerned with your character than your reputation, because your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are.

Last one by Allstair Mccaw :

It’s not what you achieve that matters, it’s who you’re becoming in pursuit of achievement.