Have you made your big breakthrough yet?

Have you made your big breakthrough yet?

In our lives and careers, we all are striving for (or have already achieved) that big breakthrough.  That one shining moment that we have been working toward, possibly unsuccessfully, up until that point.  Have you hit yours yet?  For you golf fans, you know that Xander Schauffele just achieved his big breakthrough by winning his first Major Championship at the PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Club last week.  As a former High School Boys Basketball coach, who didn’t win my first NY State Sectional Title until year 19 as a head coach, I feel as though I am uniquely qualified on the subject.  In the #CJJblog this week, I give you some tips on how you can make your first big breakthrough.  Enjoy.

• Grit.  Do you have what it takes to stay focused?  Are you mentally strong enough to stick with it through your failures?  Get your reps in and don’t give up on your dream too soon.
• Analysis.  How do you analyze your performances?  What are your systems and processes in place that you should keep/change?  How do you handle adversity during crunch time?
• Learning.  Are you a student of your profession?  How do you continue to learn and master both the physical and mental sides of your craft?
• Question.  Are you asking the right questions?  Who are you surrounding yourself with?  Make sure to also reach out to others (preferably successful outsiders) for advice.
• Assess.  Are you innately aware of your strengths and weaknesses?  What should you keep doing?  What should you change?
• Confidence.  How confident are you in your abilities to be successful?  Repetition breeds confidence, so if you lack self-confidence, get back on the horse and try again.
• Practice.  Are your practices more challenging than the games themselves?  Put yourself (and your team) in pressure situations to challenge both the body and the mind.

Did You Know?  Coach Jim Johnson has a very active YouTube Channel where you can listen to to his podcast – Limitless Leadership Lounge – and watch videos on motivation and leadership.

Life Tip #35:  Use the CANEI Formula – Constant and Never-Ending Improvement