Eight Suggestions for Succeeding
Written by Holden Rethwill
In my last post about my favorite book, Wooden, I discussed three ways to limit your success – whining, complaining, making excuses. Ok so we have what not to do. Now what should we do in order to be successful?
Sticking with the John Wooden theme, he gives us eight suggestions for succeeding. They are as follows:
1. Fear no opponent. Respect every opponent.
2. Remember, it’s the perfection of the smallest details that make big things happen.
3. Keep in mind that hustle makes up for many a mistake.
4. Be more interested in character than reputation.
5. Be quick, but don’t hurry.
6. Understand that the harder you work, the more luck you will have.
7. Know that valid self-analysis is crucial for improvement.
8. Remember that there is no substitute for hard work and careful planning. Failing to prepare is preparing to fail.
These are amazing. If you stick to these eight suggestions, I truly believe your potential to be successful in whatever you do will skyrocket.
That said, I would like to highlight two of the eight as they pertain to the world of CrossFit.
“Remember, it’s the perfection of the smallest details that make big things happen.”
Whether you’re a competitive athlete or just someone trying to be the best version of themselves, the little things are what’s important. Neglecting to do the little things, mobilizing, accessory work, light positioning work, etc. will limit your potential to perform the big things. We all start somewhere, and regardless of where you’re at, the little things are what’s important when it’s comes to making ourselves better!
“Keep in mind that hustle makes up for many a mistake.”
There’s only one fittest man, woman, and team crowned each year. Does that mean they’ve never made mistakes? No. We all make mistakes. But one thing I can guarantee you is that they worked harder, even if just a minute amount, than everyone else.
What am I getting at here? It goes back to one of the oldest sayings in the book. Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard. It’s inevitable that we will all make mistakes, and again, whether you’re competitive or not doesn’t matter. We all have the ability to hustle and work hard. A solid work ethic will make up for many technical mistakes we all are bound to make.
These two suggestions are, in my opinion, paramount to success for all of us in the world of CrossFit. We all have the ability to work hard and perfect the little things.
If you’re wondering what some of these little things are, keep an eye out for blog posts this month on accessory work and methods for mobilization. If you’re wondering what it means to work hard, well that’s a whole other philosophical discussion. For now just give your best effort every time you step foot in the gym, and remember to have fun!
Also Check Out…