The Secret Weapon of Champions in Athletics, Sports, and Fitness

I am currently reading “Think & Grow Rich” by Napoleon Hill and all I have been getting from this awesome book is the power of a mindset: originating from the ‘desire’ to win, be someone or gain something in life which later transpires to ‘faith’. 

Let me pose an important question first: Have you ever witnessed an athlete with seemingly average physical abilities outperform someone who appears more gifted? Or perhaps you’ve experienced plateaus in your own fitness journey, feeling stuck despite consistent effort?

The answer to these questions and any other relative to them might lie in a powerful, yet often overlooked factor: mindset.

Mindset & its Categories

Mindset is defined as the set of attitudes or beliefs that we hold that eventually affect everything we do, feel, think, and experience.  

Although we have one overall mindset, this can be made up of many smaller mindsets. Mindsets are powerful: They create your realities, and shape your thoughts, feelings, and behaviours in important ways. They can also create blind spots, fuel biased thinking, and when left unchecked, can be hard to change. 

There are many different types of mindsets that have been explored by researchers each with distinctive characteristics that factor into temperament and personality. Some of the most well-known (and beneficial) mindsets include: 

• Growth Mindset: believe in your ability to become better through hard work, and help from others
• Positive Mindset: the tendency to focus on the bright side, expect positive results, and approach challenges with a positive outlook
• Entrepreneurial Mindset: pursuing and following through on something can lead to unforeseen opportunities.
• Abundance Mindset: the paradigm that there is plenty out there for everybody.
• Challenge Mindset: Knowing what challenge you want to tackle will aid you in thinking critically
• Mindful Mindset: a worldview that our lives are interconnected at the intersectional and phenomenological levels and that our identities are fluid, intersectional and interdependent.

Each of these mindsets exists on a continuum, which goes from having 100% of this mindset to having 0% of it. So, you will fall somewhere on the continuum for each mindset type below:

• Growth Mindset <> Fixed Mindset: Dr. Carol Dweck of Stanford University, a renowned psychologist, differentiates between two mindsets: fixed and growth. A fixed mindset views talent as something innate and unchangeable. This can lead to discouragement when faced with challenges. A growth mindset, however, believes abilities can be developed through effort and perseverance. This fosters a love of learning, resilience, and a willingness to embrace challenges, ultimately leading to greater improvement.

• Positive Mindset <> Negative Mindset: Someone who is an optimist may believe the best about people, situations and outcomes. A pessimist is likely to expect the opposite and predict negative outcomes. Both of these mindsets affect not only how we perceive outcomes but guide our actions in accordance with our expectations.

• Entrepreneurial Mindset <> Worker Bee Mindset: An entrepreneurial mindset is resilient, resourceful, and solutions-oriented — even when the conditions say otherwise. People with these mindsets are lifelong knowledge-seekers who are curious and creative, and they are critical thinkers. They’re self-directed, action-oriented, highly-engaged. They have optimistic interpretations of adverse events and see problems as potential opportunities. They’re about looking to others, and the value you can create for others by solving problems for others, and they surround themselves with an intentional community of positive influence and critical guidance. Entrepreneurial mindsets understand that pursuing and following through on something can lead to unforeseen opportunities.

• Abundance Mindset <> Scarcity Mindset: Scarcity mentality refers to people seeing life as a finite pie, so that if one person takes a big piece, that leaves less for everyone else. Most people, particularly in the corporate world, have been conditioned to have a scarcity mentality. It’s no wonder when promotions and raises are scarce, resources are limited, managers hoard information, micromanagement abounds, and generally, short-term thinking is the norm. A scarcity mentality is what keeps many of us from achieving our goals. An abundance mindset refers to the paradigm that there is plenty out there for everybody.

• Challenge Mindset <> Threat Mindset: In general, we tend to avoid taking risks if we believe that the negatives outweigh the positives. How we evaluate whether or not a risk is worth taking is largely influenced by our mindset.  

• Mindful Mindset <> Mindless Mindset: Mindful mindset refers to a worldview that our lives are interconnected at the intersectional and phenomenological levels and that our identities are fluid, intersectional and interdependent. It has seven features including compassion; sympathetic joy; critical intersectional awareness; negative capability; cultural humility; wonder; and generosity.

How do Mindsets Work?

Your mindset acts as a lens through which you see the world. It impacts what you notice and how you interpret different situations. This takes place through the confirmation bias.

• It causes you to notice the information that support your beliefs—and fail to notice anything that contradicts those beliefs.
• The confirmation bias makes you only remember the evidence that supports your beliefs—and if you notice any information that contradicts your strong beliefs, you don’t remember it.
• Finally, if somehow you do notice and remember information that contradicts your beliefs, you discount it by saying it’s the “exception to the rule,” so you can hold onto your beliefs.

Both adults and children learn new information and skills better when they adopt a growth and an optimistic mindset. People who understand that the brain can become smarter tend to see failure as part of the natural learning process are more likely to respond positively to challenges and learning new things. If you have a positive mindset, as an athlete you will have:

• Enhanced Confidence: Believing in your abilities allows you to approach challenges head-on. Confident athletes are more likely to take calculated risks, push their limits, and persevere through setbacks.
• Improved Focus: A focused mind eliminates distractions and allows you to concentrate on executing skills with precision. This translates to better decision-making on the field and improved reaction times.
• Greater Resilience: Positive athletes view setbacks as temporary obstacles and bounce back stronger. They learn from mistakes and maintain a growth mindset, constantly seeking improvement.
• Reduced Stress and Anxiety: Anxiety can cripple performance. A positive mindset helps manage pre-game jitters and channel nervous energy into focused motivation.

How the Mindset Impacts Performance

Your mindset can translate into tangible results on the field, court, or track. Here’s how:

Motivation and Persistence: Athletes with a growth mindset are more likely to be intrinsically motivated, driven by the desire to learn and improve. They see setbacks as temporary roadblocks and persevere in the face of difficulty.

Focus and Concentration: A fixed mindset can lead to performance anxiety, causing athletes to become overly focused on potential failure. Conversely, a growth mindset allows athletes to stay focused on the task at hand, minimizing distractions and maximizing performance.

Learning and Growth: Embracing a growth mindset fosters a willingness to learn from mistakes and adapt strategies. Athletes with this mindset are constantly seeking feedback and striving to improve, leading to faster progress.

Confidence and Self-Belief: A growth mindset cultivates a sense of confidence and self-belief. Athletes with this mindset trust their abilities and believe they can succeed even in the face of adversity.

Practical Tips on How We Can Develop a Champion Mindset

Few things separate good athletes from champions such as their mindset. It’s the unwavering belief, the unwavering focus, the unwavering drive that propels them to push boundaries and achieve greatness. Independent of your field of play, an athlete, a fitness enthusiast, or an outdoor adventurer, cultivating a champion’s mindset is the key to unlocking your full potential. 

Inspired by my current read (Napoleon Hill’s “Think and Grow Rich”), I have crafted 7 actionable steps that you can follow to forge a champion’s mindset in your athletic journey, so come along:

1. Ignite the Fire Within: Desire + Belief (Think and Grow Rich – The Desire)

Hill emphasizes the crucial role of burning desire. Imagine yourself conquering that summit, nailing that personal best, or dominating the competition. Visualize this success with such intensity that it becomes an all-consuming fire fuelling your motivation. This aligns with Hill’s concept of a Definite Chief Aim, a clear vision that propels you forward.

Tip: Create a vision board with images and affirmations that represent your dream. Review it daily to keep the fire burning bright.

2. Cultivate Unwavering Faith (Think and Grow Rich – The Faith)

Hill emphasizes the power of faith. Believe in your ability to achieve your goals, even when doubt creeps in. This unshakeable conviction is the foundation for resilience.

Tip: Recall past achievements, no matter how small. Each victory reinforces your belief in your capability to overcome challenges.

3. Embrace the Growth Mindset (Think and Grow Rich – Organized Knowledge)

Hill stresses the importance of organized knowledge. Apply this principle to your chosen sport or activity. Seek out mentors, coaches, and educational resources to refine your skills and understand your sport’s complexities. A growth mindset, where you view setbacks as opportunities to learn and improve, is crucial.

Tip: Analyze your performance after every session. Identify areas for improvement and actively seek out strategies to address them.

4. Harness the Power of Positive Self-Talk (Think and Grow Rich – The Power of the Subconscious Mind)

Hill delves into the power of the subconscious mind. Negative self-talk can cripple your performance. Instead, replace it with empowering affirmations. Tell yourself “I can,” “I will,” and visualize success.

Tip: You can record positive affirmations in your own voice and listen to them during your workouts or commutes.

5. Visualize Success (Think and Grow Rich – The Sixth Sense)

Hill highlights the importance of the sixth sense, your imagination. Visualize yourself performing flawlessly, conquering challenges, and achieving your goals. This mental rehearsal prepares your mind and body for success.

Tip: Before a competition or a challenging workout, spend time visualizing yourself executing flawlessly. Focus on the sensations of success, the feeling of accomplishment.

6. Embrace the Power of Persistence (Think and Grow Rich – The Mystery of Sex Transmutation)

Hill emphasizes the role of sex transmutation, channelling your energy and desires towards a singular goal. This translates into persistence. Greatness rarely comes easy; be prepared to face setbacks and keep pushing forward.

Tip: You have to develop a mantra for overcoming discouragement. A simple phrase like “I will not quit” repeated during difficult moments can reignite your determination.

7. Surround Yourself with Positive Influences (Think and Grow Rich – The Master Mind)

Hill emphasizes the power of the Master Mind. Surround yourself with positive individuals who support your goals and believe in your potential. Seek mentors, join communities, and surround yourself with those who inspire you.

Tip: Find a training buddy or join a tribe (a supportive online community) where you can share experiences, motivate each other, and celebrate successes.

Napoleon Hill reminds us, “What the mind can conceive and believe, it can achieve.” So, my fellow Wanderer, dream big, believe fiercely, and embark on your journey to greatness with a champion’s mindset.

Onward to conquer and thrive!!