Given my experience at high levels of both sports and business, I’m often asked what separates the good from the great. My answer is always the same: mental toughness. Some people are born with it, but the good news is all of us can develop some level of it.
When I was an offensive lineman at Virginia Tech I was coached by one of the best coaches in the country, Pat Watson. We started each practice running through a chicken-wire cage that was only 5 feet high – picture a bunch of burly, 6′ players in full gear trying to navigate through this structure, and you’ll get an idea of how laughable this was. Once we completed this task we sprinted to the pull-up area and did pull-ups. After practice when the rest of the team had already hit the showers, we had to stay behind and do short sprints.
Though it wasn’t fun at the time, I later realized that these activities did more than toughen us up physically. They also developed our mental toughness by challenging us to get out of our comfort zones and demanding a little extra effort. Coach Watson’s offensive lines were known as the toughest in the land every year. It all started with these drills and the mindset they created.
The good news is that running sprints isn’t the only way to build up your mental toughness. There’s no age limit on it, either. My mother told me she has been challenging herself to make more phone calls to old friends, an activity she always appreciates afterwards but which requires some courage to initiate. She has also been physically challenging herself to walk around her house a little more each day. The more she does these things, the more alive she feels mentally and physically.
Anything will do, even seemingly “small” things. If you’re in sales, make that call you’ve been putting off. Choose the task you like the least, and start forcing yourself to do it a little more often. (I find that knocking these things out first thing in the morning works the best for me, as I am most motivated and “on” at that point.) Get out of the same old comfort zone.
Practice this for a few weeks, and I bet you will see a big difference in your mindset. The things you once dreaded won’t seem as difficult, and you might even start looking for bigger challenges.
Have a great weekend,
Ro