INTERESTED OR COMMITTED?

Today I'm sharing an excerpt from my new book, Hidden Talent: Uncovering What Really Makes a Champion a Champion. (You can learn more about the book or pick up a copy here.)

In a world where most people give in when things get uncomfortable, those who’ve developed the ability to give their best in every situation stand out from the crowd. These are the people who have what Hall of Fame football coach Vince Lombardi called "a commitment to excellence." Average or mediocre people – the losers – they have an interest; but champions have a commitment. Can you see the separation that creates between them?

People who are interested give what they can, when they can. The problem with this approach is there’s always a challenge, an obstacle, or an excuse for any of us to focus on if we look hard enough to find it. Because circumstances of life fluctuate from day to day, the loser’s effort and engagement fluctuates from day to day, too. Losers are hard to count on because you never know exactly who you’re gonna get when they walk through that door. The loser may be Dr. Jekyll today and Mr. Hyde tomorrow.

One day they show up fully engaged, committed, and ready to go. The next day, they’re distant and distracted. One day focused, the next day flighty. They can give the team’s best effort today and its worst tomorrow. They can treat people well one day and then treat those same people poorly the next. Their interest – and therefore their attitude, their focus, and their effort – are all circumstantial.

People who are committed to excellence are different. They give their very best no matter how they feel. That’s not to say that champions don’t have challenges, issues, or excuses available to them. It simply means they’ve determined that those circumstances won’t be permitted to affect their effort or their focus. There’s a level of constancy and consistency with champions, both mentally and physically, that separates them from everyone else. When the champion walks in the door, you know exactly who you’re going to get. They are the same person every day.

There’s a level of constancy and consistency with champions, both mentally and physically, that separates them from everyone else. When the champion walks in the door, you know exactly who you’re going to get. They are the same person every day.

Mentally, they show up ready to go. There’s a focus that comes with a commitment to excellence. That’s not to say they’re never distracted or depressed or angry. But it does mean that when there’s a job to do, champions can be counted on. They can focus up, set distractions aside, and give their full attention to the task at hand.

That same level of consistency is evident in their physical effort, too. It’s hard to tell how champions feel on the inside based on the effort you see from them on the outside. A champion’s effort looks just the same – awesome – no matter what they’re feeling. When the loser is tired, angry, or hurting, it’s usually obvious to an observer, but champions find a way to keep running full throttle no matter what’s happening internally. They are never not hustling, pushing, and striving valiantly.

This is a big reason why champions win. How many people have given in to their circumstances, and therefore given up on some important pursuit in life just before breaking through to achievement? How many have walked away from the wall in front of them with a few swings still left in their hammer, assuming it was no use and their work would never come to fruition? Too many. Don’t relegate yourself to this sorry group of regretful souls. It may well be that wall needs only your next swing of the hammer to crack and then crumble before you. Don’t give up. Your big break is coming. Your opportunity is close. Keep hustling and keep trusting that what you’ll get – and more importantly, who you’ll become for your effort – will be worth the price you’ve paid.

Every time you stretch yourself in this Hidden Talent area, you create a new mark for your personal best that you weren’t capable of reaching before. And even though sometimes really stretching yourself can hurt a little, it is fun to reach someplace you’ve never been. Plus, the more you stretch, the more flexible you become. You train yourself to work at a capacity you weren’t capable of before. Experiencing this kind of growth spurs more growth. You get better at giving your best when you realize that your best has gotten better.

When you commit to this process and you develop your talent, you continue to set yourself apart. When things are quick, easy, and convenient, you’ll find plenty of people in the arena competing for success. But as the challenging circumstances mount, the losers gradually start to fade, and when they give in, you can press on. The distance you create between yourself and everyone else is directly proportional to the effort you’ve conditioned yourself to give – in both the big moments and the small. The more you develop, the bigger and better the opportunities you find. The better the impression you make. And the more unique and uncommon you become.