Here’s a passage from my new book (it’s one of my favorites):
Momentum comes from small successes that spontaneously catapult you onto bigger objectives. What you thought was impossible becomes possible, when you have a string of small successes that give you the confidence that you can do anything.
Why is this passage one of my favorites?
Because it represents the breakthrough moment I had as a collegiate wrestler, the moment that catapulted me to winning a national championship.
Yes, I had a big goal to win the title – but I struggled with nervousness and anxiety about whether or not I could make it happen.
Then one day afternoon, I decided to set a goal that wasn’t so far off. It was just a goal for today’s practice.
I took out a notecard and wrote:
“I will throw my practice opponent 20 times in today’s workout.”
That afternoon, facing the same person that I had only thrown four times in our previous practice, I put a whooping on him. I tossed him repeatedly. The difference was almost magical. It was surreal.
I achieved my goal for that practice. And I continued to set adaily goal for the remainder of the season.
At the national championships I was the number one seed.
Even so, I did not look beyond my first match. I followed the same procedure, taking one match at a time.
Looking too far ahead destroys the ambitions of many athletes.
They look at the first round, albeit briefly, then begin to project ahead, thinking, often out loud, about who they will face in the second round, in the quarterfinals, in the semifinals and finals.
And far too often, the athletes who look beyond the first round, get beat before the second.
The same thing happens in business. It took me awhile to figure out that having a daily business or career goal was just as important
as having a daily goal as an athlete.
This is why I repeatedly say, “Take care of today first, and there will be no frustration.”
Even better, take care of what you have before you NOW.
Get the seemingly small stuff done each day, and before you know it, you’re on your way.
Get yourself going with what appears tiny, and you’ll hold a trophy that’s nice and shiny.
For a copy of my new book, One Breath at a Time, click here.
Matt Furey
