On Three

One could do a LOT worse. 

If asked to compile a three part list of those traits necessary to achieve goals, in life, career, sports, travel, education, art, or whatever field of endeavor is important to you, these three might suffice as an accurate road map: 

CONFIDENCE, RESILIENCE & HOPE.

This trio, submitted by longtime ultra marathoner and educator, Andy Jones Wilkins, is a great start. One could also substitute the big three from Dan Millman and light out on the trail:

PARADOX, HUMOR, CHANGE. 

Or as they advise at Success Factor:

VISION, PASSION, PERSEVERANCE.

All valid, legitimate and worthy. Every one needs to have a default core belief, something to hold on to, cling to, rely upon when the going gets rough. As I am fond of warning in spin class, the going WILL get rough. A good thing. A VERY good thing. 

What a wonderful opportunity we have to practice this. We, indoor cycling instructors to personal trainers, coaches to mentors, competitors to spectators, facilitate the transformation of courage from merely a word in the dictionary to a powerful tool we can employ to assist us in the attainment of our dreams. Courage is the crescent wrench in our tool-box of change. Here is the scenario and the application we use to train for future success:

SHOW UP, COMPETE, RECOVER.

Before any change or adaptation can take place you must display some courage, face your demons, your excuses and show up. Once there we create safe protocols to regularly up the ante to stimulate the adaptation process with the singular challenge to rise above your former self, challenge your core beliefs and grow. You get stronger, fitter, faster, more confident, more appreciative, more passionate, with cleaner vision and a brighter smile in your heart. Once this magical process has begun the spirit of the athlete is respectfully accessed prompting continual improvement with enhanced enjoyment of the process. Simply stated, by creating a structured series of tests (training), one eventually ends up in the general proximity of where one initially envisioned to arrive, i.e. one’s goals. 

I am continually humored at the complex simplicity of all this. So much so that several years ago, I began saying that there are really only three things one needs to do to achieve ANY goal. 

After a thorough review into the truth, and thereby utility, of each of the threesomes listed above, their validity and practicality, I can honestly say that once they are incorporated into the mix, they all function effectively with my ’no snake oil’ formula. 

In order to achieve any goal, at any time, with any tools, one must simply:

START, CONTINUE, FINISH. 

On three. Break.