The Penny Heyns Series: Action

Last month we looked at the importance of passion with
regards to purpose and destiny. I trust that by now you have done some soul
searching to identify exactly what it is that drives you…

If so we now have a foundation from which to chart a course
as passion is merely your compass needle, the catalyst to point you in the
right direction toward your success and destiny – your North!

While passion is a most vital ingredient of success, it is
however just the first of several. I’m sure you are familiar with the saying, ‘Faith without
work is dead’. Well, in the world of professional sport – passion without
action is dead.

Even with all the passion in the world you need action so as
to make your dream or vision manifest.

During my career I found that the best way to get the ball
rolling so to speak is to firstly take personal responsibility for my journey
and then, thereafter, invite those who formed my support structure such as
coaches, sport performance specialists, parents and friends, to join me.

What do I mean by this?

You have already identified your passion and purpose, though
it may just be a small part of your ultimate destiny. You now have to make it
real. You have to plant a seed in your heart with regards to your immediate and
ultimate goal.

Your seed must be planted in fertile soil and thereafter be
sure to water it so that it can grow and manifest itself as the real thing. There
are three steps to doing this. This month we focus on the first, creating your
roadmap to success.

Step # 1: Create your
roadmap to success: What’s your Goal & Plan?

Your first step in taking action is to sit down and write your
goals on paper and place it somewhere where you can see it often. There is
something extremely powerful about seeing your vision on paper.

Before you do this, your goal is merely a thought, not
tangible or real. Once you have written the goal down however, you have in
essence made a commitment. Whether you keep your commitment is of course your
choice.

Your Goals should be both challenging yet realistic. It must
be something you really believe, in fact – know, you can achieve, provided you
are focussed, dedicated, diligent and committed. Remember – your goals are
never permanent since as you grow, so your goals will require adjusting.

You need to have both short term and long term goals as no
degree of success can ever come overnight. For some of us it takes years of
commitment and focus…

Once you’ve written your goals down, you now need to
carefully structure and write out your plan – i.e.: the details of how you aim
to reach your goals. You may want to do some research on how the greats of your
given discipline train, how they think, what the latest research says about
your sport and world class technique etc.

Reaching your goals will require personal growth and for
this you need to do some homework in addition to your regular training. Obviously
this is where you may wish to invite your coach and other experts to help you
plan your strategy.

Remember that each workout and every competition also
provide an opportunity to grow and learn, so decide to pay attention. Set daily
goals for yourself going into each practice or game – something specific to
focus on and improve, thereby maximising every opportunity for improvement and
growth.

There should never be a mindless workout. Focus is the key
to success! You have to engage your mind for it is in the mind that the battle
is won or lost. We are in essence the sum total of our thoughts, so be sure to
focus and train yourself to think and speak positive words that line up with the
goals you have set.

Do not dwell on yesterday’s setbacks or disappointments. Every
perceived failure is an opportunity to learn and grow and thereby improve, if
you will see them as just that, and nothing more.

Mine every situation and result for the nugget of truth that
will lead you toward the greater achievements of your tomorrows.

 Next month we will
explore how to build your strongest muscle – the brain, through a very well
known but little used technique – visualization.

Best wishes as you set your goals, write them down, speak
them out aloud [fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”yes” overflow=”visible”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”][there is power in that] and as you plan your strategy for
success.

Goal & Plan Example
From My Career 

In May 1993, three years prior to my Atlanta 1996 Olympic
successes, I found myself in a place where I was overweight [by swimmers
terms], my stroke technique was suffering, partly as a result thereof, and I
had little direction in terms of the future of my swimming career.

At the time I was studying and swimming on scholarship in
the USA
for the University of Lincoln, Nebraska. It was the American summer holiday and
I was back in South Africa
for a period of three months.

I remember arriving at the airport in Durban, to meet my parents, and my mom saying
that the first thing we’ve got to do is shed the weight. Now you may think my
mom was harsh, but she was aware of the fact that my times had slipped and that
I was unhappy with my most recent performances. We needed a plan of action to
set me back on course and some goals to go with it.

In my case, the swimming specific goals were only set quite
some time after assessing the ‘damage’ to my body and my stroke technique [I
was about 6 to 8 kg’s over weight – and it wasn’t muscle like the Americans
tried to tell me].

I decided to train during my ‘holiday’ with an elderly
semi-retired coach, Tubby Lynn, whom I believed was the guru of Breaststroke
technique.

I trusted Tubby completely when it came to technique, even on an
international scale. This is also very important, that you trust your coach. If
not, you will never be able to reach your full potential through him or her.

Tubby told me that he believed I could drop my weight, get
into shape and change my technique completely to match that of the world’s best
male breaststroker of the time.

He said it would take immense work and
dedication, but that it was possible to make huge improvements in those three
months which could set me up to continued progress once I returned to the
States.

He believed my loss in technique, which I felt was the end
of my swimming career, was a blessing in disguise, as it forced me to start
over and develop a completely different stroke with world best technique. There
is great opportunity in every circumstance if we will choose to see it and
embrace it.

He discussed his suggested workout cycle and the various
drills we would do to change the stroke along with the additional dietary
changes I would make. Tubby believed I could potentially drop 3 seconds on my
100m Breaststroke and a huge 7 seconds on the 200m, setting new South African
records and placing me in the world top ten within a year. Somehow I also
believed this and so was set the goal and plan.

I wrote them down and set out in a direction which would
ultimately culminate in my setting a new World record and my double Olympic
Gold medal performances within just short of three years. I achieved the
impossible simply because I was willing to change, set goals and stick to a
well devised plan or strategy.

Set goals you can believe in, lay out a plan you can execute
and then stick to it with tenacity!
 

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