What does it take to become a champion? The secret is so simple and so basic yet is overlooked by most. Success in and out of sports is directly related to how willing you are to venture outside of your own comfort zone. It’s not the natural talent, the physical gifts or the training advantages that separate the best from all the rest. It is instead the simple habit of “getting comfortable being uncomfortable” that drives an athlete to do just a little bit more than everyone else, to go a little harder, run a little faster, make that extra sacrifice, etc. These athletes and coaches are never satisfied with simply doing a good job. They are continually looking for the competitive edge, for a better way, for a new angle that the opponent hasn’t yet thought of. Simply put, these individuals don’t just do their best. They are successful because they do what ever it takes!

Champions tend to be a different breed. They suffer pain in the moment, every day, for the pleasure of a far off result. It’s not easy being a champion. It takes courage to dream big and then allow nothing to prevent you from realizing that  dream. It takes determination, practice, exercise, and yes, COMMITMENT to never give up, give in, back up, back down, quit or walk away until victory is achieved.

A Champion realizes there is a price to pay.

To be a champion in any area of your life there is a price to pay. The price is either in time or resources. You have to be willing to invest your time and resources, or both.

A Champion is ready and willing to make the sacrifice that is necessary

All success requires sacrifice. A champion will access what is necessary and put forth the effort of sacrifice plus a little bit more. The key is aligning the right sacrifice needed for the situation. Many  will stop short of what is needed.

Some will sacrifice much more than is needed and are on the road to burn out. Remember you can kill a fly with a bomb but it’s really too much energy and sacrifice to use when a fly swatter would be just as effective and also more efficient. Are you currently making the right amount of sacrifice to be a champion?

A Champion has the skill to focus in the moment.

The most successful people have the power of focus. They are intently able to do what needs to be done even when the world around them is falling down. They put aside the distractions and put into action the top priorities for the day. They take things to completion before moving onto the next activity. Do you have skill of focus that you need?

A Champion accepts nothing less than excellence.

For a champion, great is not good enough. That does not mean they are paralyzed with perfectionism. There is an element of diminishing return beyond excellence. A champion knows that fine line between perfectionism and excellence. To execute with excellence the fundamentals is enough to be world-class at any endeavor. To execute excellently your prospecting, lead follow up, listing presentations, buyer interviews, objection handling, planning processes, cost analysis and leadership will create an income beyond your imagination. The question is, are you exceptional in all these skills or just good? Are you maybe even below average in some of these?

A Champion realizes it’s not what happens but how you react to it that counts.

A true champion has as many slumps, challenges, or struggles as the average performer. The champion has deals that fall out, difficult sellers and assistant problems as well. The difference is the span of time they let it affect them. They understand their reaction is more important than the situation. If you control your reaction, you have a chance to control the situation. If you don’t control it you have no chance.

The more someone is a champion the shorter the span of time they let adversity affect performance. The deal falls out and some take a month to recover, others a week, others a day. The champion performer lets it affect him for less than an hour. They move on to what they can control. You can control your prospecting, your lead follow up and your ability to practice the skills you need, if you focus on them.

A Champion is intent on self-improvement and creates inner pressure to achieve the desired result.

The ability to seek improvement is reserved for only the most elite performers. Most people are not born with that desire of self-improvement. It is either instilled through relationships or circumstances. If self-improvement is spurred by relationships, you are around the right people. It means that you are proactively improving yourself. If self-improvement is sought because of circumstances you are reactive. You are seeking improvement because of a problem or challenge you are facing. When the problem is resolved, you will stop your self-improvement. Are you constantly investing in self-improvement? Are you reading books, working with a coach, or attending seminars? Do you have the skills today to be a champion performer? If not, where are you going to get them? Who could help you get there?

The truth is, no one has all the answers. Your job is to search for the answers that will craft the life you desire. Where are you searching for the answers? I can tell you it’s not contained in nightly TV.

A Champion always has a game plan and thinks and works on their plan

Most people just take what life gives them. They have no real plan to accomplish more and achieve and acquire more. You have to have a plan to achieve what you want out of life. How is your plan? Does it need work, or even to be written for the first time? Take the first step and write down a series of goals for the next year, three years, five years, and ten years. You have to know what you want.