How to Succeed Like a Professional Athlete
7 things you have to do to win
Paul is a good friend of the family. He’s a tall, attractive man with a great sense of humor and a kind heart.
He also happens to be a golf professional.
I wanted to know: Could his strategy for winning tournaments apply to other walks of life?
Did his practice routine make sense if applied to different types of work?
It was a hot, Texas day. We sat outside the cafe at the Barton Creek golf course in Austin, Texas, sipping ice teas.
I asked him, “Paul, how did you come to be such a successful athlete?”
He paused for a moment, looking out over the range with his soft brown eyes.
This is what he told me,
“Pippa, it’s all about having a solid practice strategy. Clear goals are the key to success. These are the seven things I always do…”
1. Warm-up
“I never start without a warm-up. I always stretch out before I do anything. Loosening up improves performance, prevent injuries, and keep me on the ball.”
How to apply this to your work:
- Before you sit down at your desk, be sure to stretch and get limber.
- Get your blood flowing with five minutes of your favorite type of movement. It could be a quick dance session, some yoga, some hula-hooping, some press-ups, or a few squats.
2. Get your set up right
“I get the basics right first. My grip, alignment, stance, and ball position must be correct. I check these essentials regularly.”
How to apply this to your work:
- Be sure you have a desk and chair at the right height.
- Check your computer screen is the right distance away.
- Make sure your hands and wrists are at the right angle to prevent injury.
- Your environment should be as distraction-free and comfortable as possible.
3. Find your flow
“I start with a pitching or sand wedge. I find my flow and get in the mood. Short pitch swings ease me into a great session.”
How to apply this to your work:
- Before you start on your project, find your flow with some strategizing.
- Get a pen and paper and plan what you are about to do.
- Write some affirmations or do some goal setting. Make a task list or describe your plan of action in one or two sentences.
4. Aim
“I always aim for something. This is vital to develop good habits in my game and mindset. If I maintain a clear target, practice is full of energy and purpose.”
How to apply this to your work:
- Always have a clear outcome in mind before you begin.
- Focus on being effective, not merely busy.
- What is the one thing you plan to achieve in this work session?
5. Create challenges and measure results
“I measure results. I invent games and tests for myself. I see if I can increase how well I do on each drill.”
How to apply this to your work:
- Set goals and track your progress.
- If you are sitting down to write, set yourself the challenge of reaching a certain amount of words. See if you can do better than your previous day’s word count.
- If you’re making sales calls, set yourself a target number, and see if you can better that each day.
- If you’re studying, set yourself knowledge tests and best yourself each day.
6. Collaborate
“I ask colleagues to join me. We learn from each other and have more fun. Competition and accountability motivates both of us.”
How to apply this to your work:
- Hire a coach, start a Master Mind group, find a mentor, or share your progress with a colleague or online group. You can even blog your benchmarks. Harness the power of competition and accountability.
7. Keep to a routine
“I swear by having a consistent practice routine. It calms my subconscious, increases my focus, and primes me to perform.”
How to apply this to your work:
- Are you working irregular, scattered hours? Do you approach your tasks in a random order? Many of us who work independently work this way, but it may not be optimal.
- Instead, hone your routine by setting yourself specific daily hours.
- Approach your tasks in a specific order.
The take-away
Pro-athlete success strategies to apply to your own working life:
- Warm-up.
- Get your set up right.
- Find your flow.
- Aim.
- Create challenges and measure results.
- Collaborate.
- Develop a routine.
Final words
These simple steps will make your working time far more productive. Practice as my professional golf friend does, and you’re bound to make great strides.
Keep practicing and learning. Above all, never give up, and you too will get a hole in one.