By Flint Wallace-
I read a fascinating article that Ryan Hawk (https://learningleader.com/) turned me on to in a weekly email I receive from him called Mindful Monday.
The title of the article is “What Separates Champions from ‘Almost Champions’?” by Brad Stulberg. The subtitle is Fascinating new research helps explain why some keep going when others quit. Here is the link to the article, https://getpocket.com/explore/item/what-separates-champions-from-almost-champions.
The article is based on a study by talent development researchers Dave Collins, Áine MacNamara, and Neil McCarthy in the journal Frontiers in Psychology. They examined what the difference was between athletes who overcame some adversity and went on to become world class (super champions) and the ones who struggled to handle the hardship (‘almost champions’).
There is a lot of great observations in the article, but the one that was most captivating to me was about the mindset of the super champions.
The researchers found that super champions were characterized by an almost fanatical reaction to challenge.” They viewed challenges in a positive light — as opportunities to grow — and overcame them thanks to a “never satisfied” attitude. This runs in contrast to almost champions, who blamed setbacks on external causes, became negative, and lost motivation. Although athletes in each group faced comparable challenges, the researchers write, their responses — “what the athletes brought to the challenges” — were quite distinct.
It seems that the super champions have a growth mindset. Their goal is self-improvement. They don’t compare themself to others. They are only concern with being better than they where yesterday.
As compared to the ‘almost champions’, who are concerned with rankings, benchmarks, and comparing themselves with others.
The article also goes on the discuss the parents of super champions were supportive, but not obsessive. Also, the coaches of super champions were empowering and seemed to take a longer term perspective, compare to the almost champion’s coaches who were more focused on immediate results.
So I believe the mindset of a person, and how it is nurtured, is the most important aspect in how a they develop persistence. And, in the words of Michael Joyner, an expert on human performance at Mayo Clinic, “With enough persistent effort, most people can get pretty good at anything.”
Until Next Time…Keep Getting After It!
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We have one final Elite Pitchers Boot Camp on the winter schedule before the start of the 2020 baseball season. It will take place on the Martin Luther King holiday weekend, January 18-20. There are only a few spots remaining. For more information or to register, go to www.texasbaseballranch.com.
If you’ve been to a previous Ranch event and want to join us at our Advanced camp (for Alumni only) that 2-day event will be January 11 & 12. This camp is limited to only 24 athletes. For more information or to register, go to https://www.texasbaseballranch.com/events/alumni-pitchers-bootcamp/
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