177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS
OF THE WORLD CLASS
The Thought Processes, Habits
And Philosophies Of The Great Ones
Steve Siebold
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF TH E WO R L D CL A S S
177 ME NTA L TO UG HN ES S SE CR ET S OF T HE WOR LD CLA SS
The Thought Processes, Habits And Philosophies Of The Great Ones
Steve Siebold
Published by
London House
www.londonhousepress.com
© 2005 by Steve Siebold
All Rights Reserved. Printed in Hong Kong.
No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or
transmitted, in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording
or otherwise) without the prior written permission of the copyright owner.
Ordering Information
To order additional copies please visit www.mentaltoughnesssecrets.com
or visit the Gove Siebold Group, Inc. at www.govesiebold.com.
ISBN: 0-9755003-0-9
Credits
Editor: Gina Carroll
www.inkwithimpact.com
Jacket and Book design by Sheila Laughlin
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
iv
DEDICATION
This book is dedicated to the three most important people in my life, for their never-ending
love, support and encouragement in the realization of my goals and dreams.
Dawn Andrews Siebold, my beautiful, loving wife of almost 20 years. You are my soul
mate and best friend. I feel best about me when I’m with you. We’ve come a long way since
sub-man. I love you.
Walter and Dolores Siebold, my parents, for being the most loving and supporting parents
any kid could ask for. Thanks for everything you’ve done for me. I love you.
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
vi
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
To my late business partner and best friend, the great Bill Gove, for everything you taught
me and all the fun we had together building Gove Siebold Group. We will meet again,
Spider. I miss you.
To Ada Gove, for loving and taking care of Bill for all those years, and for always support-
ing our work at Gove Siebold Group. Bill lived a longer, healthier and richer life because
of you.
To Larry Wilson, for being a great friend and mentor, and for showing me how the system
works.
To Bob Proctor, for promoting Gove Siebold Group tirelessly over the years. For always
pushing me to think big.
To John R. Spannuth, for introducing me to Bill Gove, and for always encouraging me
every step of the way. There would be no Gove Siebold Group without you.
To Keith Harrell, for your friendship, guidance and endless referrals.
To Lou Wood, for your friendship, and for your ongoing feedback during the mental
toughness process. A speaker could never have a better client. A person could never have
a better friend.
To Sheila Laughlin, for your outstanding layout and design work on this book, and for
everything you’ve done for Gove Siebold Group over the years. If only Bill could see you
now.
To Gina Carroll, for your tireless editing of this book, and for all of your help and sugges-
tions.
To all of the members of Gove Siebold Group’s National Board of Advisors: Dr. Tony
Alessandra, Bill Brooks, Jim Cathcart, Dave Yoho, Dr. Jim Tunney, Mark Victor
Hansen, Randy Gage, Patricia Fripp, Larry Wilson, Nido Qubein, Brian Tracy, Bob
Proctor, Ray Pelletier. For all of your advice and guidance over the years.
To Jay Travis and Christy Travis Hey, for being the example of what’s possible as adults
when you begin the mental toughness process as children.
To Magic Sammy Lankford, for being a great friend and mentor when I needed you
most.
To Brian Lee Allen, the original great one, for helping me nd my way home.
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
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viii
FOREWORD
It’s important to understand that the author of this book, Steve Siebold, is not an ordinary
coach, but a world-class Mental Toughness Coach. As you ponder whether or not this book
is for you, think about your life. How well are you performing in the areas of your life
you deem to be most important? Are you thriving or just surviving? Are you at the top
of your game or sitting on the bench, watching others play, wishing you could be the star
performer?
No matter how you’ve answered these questions, you’re going to want to read this book.
Why? You already know that good performance coaching is like eating healthy food. What
you eat inuences your energy and your body’s performance. So eating healthy food just
makes good sense.
But what controls how well you perform? What you think controls how you perform --
pure cause and effect. Your thinking is the cause. Your performance is the effect. So think-
ing the right thoughts (and acting on them) makes great sense. In fact, it makes Perfor-
mance Champions. And a steady diet of “high-performance thought food” is contained in
177 Mental Toughness Secrets of the World Class. It’s your recipe for a great life, the
“thought food” of champions.
Oh, did I mention that you, too, are a coach? You are the one who chooses your thought
food. You’re the one who swallows your thought food. And, you’re the only one who is
accountable for what you swallow (think). For better or worse, you are your own head
coach, the coach of what thoughts are in your head.
But don’t despair, Steve is here to save the day. Steve is my good friend and your primary
assistant coach. He’s here to assist you in making the best choices possible -- the thoughts
you feed your brain. He does this by studying the thought diets of the highest performers
in a variety of elds. No surprise, the best of the best feed their brains similar thought
foods. This book shares this food with you.
Steve makes it easy and convenient for you to say, “I’ll have what the champion perform-
ers are having.” If you want to Be like a champion, you’ve got to Think like a champion.
Come on coach, start the Mental Toughness diet now!
Start today Playing to Win the Great Game of Your Life. There’s a champion performer
inside you just waiting to Get in the Game and lead a life really worthy of living.
Larry Wilson
Founder
Wilson Learning
Co-author of Play to Win, Choosing growth over fear in work and in life and author of the
personal growth process, The Great Game of Life
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
INTRODUCTION
I have had the privilege of competing against, coaching, being coached by and observing
world-class performers since I was six years old. As a junior tennis player competing
throughout the United States from ages 7-18, I became fascinated with what it takes to
become a champion. My dream was to be ranked among the Top 10 players in the world,
but I fell short. At my best, I hovered around the Top 500 in the world, and that’s as high as
I could seem to reach. Deep down, I knew I had the talent to make my dream a reality, and
I knew the missing link was mental. After I hung up my racquet for the last time, I became
obsessed with uncovering the mental toughness secrets of champions. Starting in 1984, I
spent every free moment conducting interviews with champions, reading their books and
studying everything I could get my hands on about the psychology of peak performance.
My friends said I was obsessed. They were right. This book is the result of my 20-year
obsession.
When I started to implement the ideas in this book, my whole life changed. It wasn’t over-
night, but sometimes it seemed like it. There’s no magic here, just practical thought pro-
cesses, habits and philosophies drawn from the greatest performers in the world.
This book contains no theories. Every secret comes straight from the street of experience,
either my own or that of our clients. This book is loaded with ideas you can implement
immediately. Some will be familiar, and some new. All of them have the power to catapult
your results, no matter how high you’re ying. As a matter of fact, the people who get the
most value out of our mental toughness process are the world class. They are always trying
to gain an edge and get better, which is one of the reasons I think so highly of them.
I’ve held nothing back in this book, which means that at times you may nd yourself
slightly offended. This book is constantly comparing ‘average people’ with ‘world-class
people’. These terms are used to get your attention and make you ask, “Which one am I?”
Of course there are no ‘average people’, just average performers getting average results.
We are all equal as human beings. I simply use these terms in reference to performance and
results.
It’s been said that speakers and writers espouse wisdom on the very topic they need most.
Now that you know my story, you know this is true for me. After 20 years of studying and
teaching mental toughness to people throughout the United States, Canada, and 10 other
countries, I can honestly tell you that many times I still think like a complete amateur,
operating out of the same middle-class consciousness that I ridicule in this book. After all
these years, my mental toughness growth is still a work in progress. The good news is that
mental toughness is a skill that can be learned, and the tougher you get, the bigger you’ll
dream and the more fun you’ll have.
Mental toughness is the ticket to becoming one of the great ones.
I hope you’ll decide to join the club.
Steve Siebold
May 1, 2004
Mexico City, Mexico
x
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
1
The World Class Operates
From Objective Reality
I
n 20 years of competing, coaching and working
with performers from various elds, I’ve discov-
ered most amateurs suffer from mild to severe
delusion in relation to their efforts and competen-
cies. In other words, most people delude themselves
into thinking they are working harder then they are,
and that they are more competent than they actually
are. Of the ve major levels of conscious awareness,
(poverty, working, middle, upper, and world) my
experience has been that performers at the middle-
class levels of consciousness suffer the grandest delu-
sions. The poverty level is barely surviving and living
in a very harsh set of circumstances. The working
class is punching a mental time clock and counting
the days until retirement. They’re usually not expecting much, and no one around them
expects much, either. They are typically not concerned about climbing any higher. It’s the
middle class that is most incongruent with reality. They are operating at a high enough
level to understand that higher levels exist. Although they don’t expect to get there, the
thought crosses their minds from time to time. Because of their low expectations, their
actions are incongruent with their desires. In other words, they want to live the life of the
world class, but are unwilling to pay the price. Since this reality is too harsh to bear, they
delude themselves into thinking they are doing everything in their power to get ahead. Of
course, they’re not. They’ll tell you they’re putting in far more time than they are. They’ll
swear they are thinking about their vision all the time, but they’re not. The world class
is brutally honest with themselves, and they tend to look reality in the face. They err on
the side of over-practicing and over-preparing. Champions know that, to ascend to the top,
you must rst be operating from a mindset of objective reality. Self-deception and delusion
have no place in the professional performer’s consciousness.
“Amateur performers oper-
ate from delusion, pros
operate from objective real-
ity. The great ones’ habits,
actions, and behaviors are
totally congruent with the
size and scope of their ulti-
mate vision. That’s why we
call them champions.”
– Steve Siebold
Action Step for Today: Make a commitment to check delu-
sion at the door. Be honest and ask this critical thinking ques-
tion: “Are my habits, actions and behaviors congruent with the
vision I have for my life?”
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
2
World-Class Resource: Get a copy of
Leadership and Self-Deception, by The
Arbinger Institute. This book made me
reexamine my entire belief system. It’s
a must-have for your mental toughness
library.
LEVELS OF AWARENESS
(Individual World View)
Poverty-Class Consciousness
5% of population
Working-Class Consciousness
10% of population
Middle-Class Consciousness
70% of population
Upper-Class Consciousness
10% of population
World-Class Consciousness
5% of population
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF TH E WO R L D CL A S S
1. The Middle Class competes . . . the World Class creates.
2. The Middle Class avoids risk . . . the World Class manages risk.
3. The Middle Class lives in delusion . . . the World Class lives in objective reality.
4. The Middle Class loves to be comfortable . . . the World Class is comfortable being uncomfortable.
5. The Middle Class has a lottery mentality . . . the World Class has an abundance mentality.
6. The Middle Class hungers for security . . . the World Class doesn’t believe security exists.
7. The Middle Class sacrifices growth for safety . . . the World Class sacrifices safety for growth.
8. The Middle Class operates out of fear and scarcity . . . the World Class operates from love and
....abundance.
9. The Middle Class focuses on having . . . the World Class focuses on being.
10. The Middle Class sees themselves as victims . . . the World Class sees themselves as responsible.
11. The Middle Class slows down . . . the World Class calms down.
12. The Middle Class is frustrated . . . the World Class is grateful.
13. The Middle Class has pipedreams . . . the World Class has vision.
14. The Middle Class is ego-driven . . . the World Class is spirit driven.
15. The Middle Class is problem oriented . . . the World Class is solution oriented.
16. The Middle Class thinks they know enough . . . the World Class is eager to learn.
17. The Middle Class chooses fear . . . the World Class chooses growth.
18. The Middle Class is boastful . . . the World Class is humble.
19. The Middle Class trades time for money . . . the World Class trades ideas for money.
20. The Middle Class denies their intuition . . . the World Class embraces their intuition.
21. The Middle Class seeks riches . . . the World Class seeks wealth.
22. The Middle Class believes their vision only when they see it . . . the World Class
......knows they will see their vision when they believe it.
23. The Middle Class coaches through logic . . . the World Class coaches through emotion.
24. The Middle Class speaks the language of fear . . . the World Class speaks the language of love.
25. The Middle Class believes problem solving stems from knowledge . . . the World Class believes
..... problem solving stems from will.
MIDDLE CLASS vs. WORLD CLASS
3
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
World-Class Wealth Begins
With World-Class Thinking
“Wealth is the product
of a man’s capacity to
think.”
– Ayn Rand,
1905-1982,
author, philosopher
I
f you got out of bed this morning and went to work
because you wanted to, you are in control of money.
If you got out of bed this morning because you had
to, money is in control of you. Even in the wealthiest
nation in the world, 99% of the population is being
controlled by money. The effect is lack of money. The
cause is thinking. Albert Einstein once said, “a problem
cannot be solved at the level of consciousness in which
it occurs.” Knowing this, champions raise their level of
consciousness by studying how the world class creates wealth. The middle class believes
formal education is the answer to acquiring wealth, yet very few academics are wealthy.
They seek advanced degrees and certications and are confounded when these things don’t
bring them riches. While the great ones are strong advocates of higher education, they
don’t believe it has much to do with acquiring money. The middle class trades time for
money. The world class trades ideas that solve problems for money. Money ows like
water from ideas. The middle class often scorns the world class out of frustration over a
lack of money, yet the answer to earning more than they can spend has been in their lap
their whole lives. Ideas -- it’s such a simple concept that the majority misses it. The poverty
class talks about and regurgitates the past; the middle class talks about other people; and
the world class talks about ideas. Professional performers know money doesn’t care which
direction it ows. They know the world will bend over backward to make them rich if it
will help them solve their problems. About 150 years ago, Karl Marx was sure the working
class, as a whole, would rise up and overcome oppression if they had a chance. What Marx
didn’t gure into the equation was the poverty-driven thought process of the people. Give
people operating at middle-class consciousness a million-dollar opportunity, and they will
nd a way to make it back to the middle class. It is where their limited self-image tells them
they belong. The difference has nothing to do with reality. It’s all perception in the mind of
the performer.
4
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
5
World-Class Resource: Read You Were
Born Rich, by Bob Proctor. This man knows
more about the mind/money connection than
anyone alive. I study everything he produces
like a scientist. Learn more about him at
www.bobproctor.com
Action Step for Today: Ask this critical thinking question: “At
what level of monetary success do I feel most comfortable? a)
poverty class b) middle class c) world class.” Where you feel
most comfortable reects your self-image, and most likely, your
current status. If you want to become wealthier, begin by rais-
ing your self-image by upgrading the self-talk you use regard-
ing money and nances. If all you do is chase more money, you
are simply attacking the effect. The cause is how you think, and
if you improve the cause, the effect will take care of itself.
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
6
Champions Have
An Immense Capacity
For Sustained Concentration
C
hampions are famous for concentrating their energy and efforts on what they
want and blocking out anything or anyone who threatens that focus. While aver-
age people haphazardly pursue loosely dened goals, champions concentrate on
the attainment of a singular purpose with an intensity that borders on obsession. World-
class performers invest an inordinate amount of time and
energy in selecting their major goals. While the masses
consider making changes every New Year’s Eve, the
goal setting and planning process is an everyday habit
of champions. When the goals are set, champions put
mental blinders on and move forward with dogged per-
sistence and ferocious tenacity. World-class performers
create such an intense level of concentration to overcome
challenges and achieve goals that it is the last thing they
think about before they fall asleep, and the rst thing
that hits them when they wake up. The great ones dream
about their goals so frequently that they often keep pen
and paper on the nightstand so they can quickly record any ideas or solutions that come
to them in the middle of the night. While average people see world-class performers’ suc-
cesses as a matter of intelligence or luck, champions know sustained concentration of
thought and action is usually the true key to their success.
Action Step for Today:
Write down the single most
important goal you want to
achieve in the next twelve
months and make a com-
mitment to concentrate on
achieving it – no matter
what it takes.
World-Class Resource:
Read Focal Point, by
Brian Tracy. This book is
required reading for all
Mental Toughness Uni-
versity clients in corpo-
rate America.
“Nothing can add more
power to your life than
concentrating all of your
energies on a limited set
of targets.”
– Nido Qubein,
speaker, author,
philanthropist
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
Champions Are Driven
By Emotional Motivators
T
he masses are primarily moti-
vated by extrinsic motivators,
such as material possessions and
money. The world class is motivated
intrinsically, by their dreams, desires
and passions. External motivation is
short lived, while internal motivation is
nearly impossible to exhaust until the
goal is achieved. The rah-rah, jump-
up-and-down motivational pep talks are
fun and temporarily motivating, yet lack
the real re emotional motivators gener-
ate. World-class leaders know the secret
to motivating themselves and others
is discovering what they will ght for
when the going gets tough. The great
ones move from logic-based motiva-
tors to emotion-based motivators. They
know the key to nding the true power of the individual lies in the deep recesses of the
psyche. The process great leaders and coaches use is tedious, time consuming, and simple:
ask questions, and don’t stop until you have landed on the emotional hot buttons. World-
class coaches keep digging until they hit the vein of gold – when the performer begins
answering in terms of how they feel, as opposed to what they think. When they hit the vein
of gold, they continue to probe until the performer reaches an emotional high point, known
in performance circles as the white moment. The white moment is the strongest emotional
driver of a performer. Coaches use emotional drivers to motivate and inspire performers
to push far beyond their threshold of pain, to accomplish feats that, without this level of
motivation, would be impossible.
“When a performer begins to experi-
ence physical or emotional pain in the
heat of the battle, the brain, whose
primary role is self preservation, asks
the question: ‘Why must I suffer?’
The champion will answer the question
with the vision they have carefully con-
structed, and they will continue to ght.
Since the masses lack this mental clar-
ity and have no reason to suffer, they
quit as soon as the pain kicks in. Devel-
oping a world-class vision is the secret
to world-class motivation.”
– Steve Siebold
7
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
Action Step for Today: Ask these ve critical thinking
questions:
1) What am I willing to ght for?
2) What values do I hold dearest to my heart?
3) What values would I be willing to die for?
4) If I could achieve a single thing, what would make
World-Class Resource:
Read Authentic Happi-
ness, by Martin Seligman,
Ph.D.
8
all my hard work worth the struggle?
5) If I had thirty seconds left to live, what would I tell
my children are the three most important things I learned
about how to live a happy life?
Your answers will tell you a lot about what drives you emo-
tionally.
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
9
The Great Ones
Separate Truth From Fact
W
hile average performers tend to believe
truth and fact are the same, the world
class knows there is a difference. Cham-
pions use their critical thinking skills to make a
clear distinction between truth and fact. Fact is real-
ity. Truth is our perception of reality, and percep-
tions are subjective. One person perceives giving
to charity as an expense, while another perceives
it as an investment in someone else’s life. The fact
is that many people give to charity; whether it’s an
expense or an investment is a perception. Which line of thinking represents truth? Both. In
the minds of individuals, perception equals truth. This subtle distinction allows the great
ones to understand themselves and others at a higher level of awareness. The masses tend
to operate from truth, which is often a distorted version of facts. Champions make deci-
sions based on facts, not feelings. The world class also uses this understanding of truth
and fact in their mental programming. The great ones know the conscious mind functions
most effectively on fact, while the subconscious can be programmed with truth. Since the
subconscious is unable to make the distinction between fact and truth, champions program
their subconscious minds to believe their visions, dreams and ideas as truths. Because the
subconscious doesn’t have the ability to reject an idea, it accepts it as truth and begins to
create behaviors that are congruent with this new “truth.” The conscious mind knows this
“truth” is not fact, and tension begins to build between the conscious and subconscious,
creating cognitive dissonance. As a result, the two go to work to create congruency. The
great ones are not only aware of the difference between truth and fact, but they also know
how to use them both to get what they want.
“We have to live today by
what truth we can get today
and be ready tomorrow to call
it falsehood.”
– William James,
1842-1910, author
Action Step for Today: Write down 10 things you know are fact, and
rethink each by asking, “Is this really a fact, or a truth I’ve created from
my own or others’ perceptions?” For example: is it a fact that the sky
is blue? Is it a fact that you are a nice person? Is it a fact that the faith-
ful will be rewarded in heaven? You’ll see how often we operate from
truth, rather than fact.
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
A
ll great leaders know that the most effective form of learning is self-discovery.
World-class coaches and managers believe in facilitating the introspective pro-
cess, which helps people rediscover what they already know. Instead of leader-
ship through the outdated command-and-control, do-it-or-you’re-red model, progressive
managers are constantly asking their employees questions and taking careful note of their
answers. The great ones know that most people
are unaware of what makes them tick in terms of
their emotional motivators. The only way to help
a person discover the hidden power locked up in
their psyche is through asking probing questions.
Learning occurs at two levels during this intro-
spective process. The rst level is when the person
digging down inside himself becomes aware of the
emotions driving his behavior, and the second is
the manager’s awareness as it relates to which but-
tons to push when it’s time to motivate his charge
to action. Amateur coaches and managers coach
primarily through logic. Professional coaches and
managers coach primarily through emotion. Since
human beings are primarily emotional creatures,
it’s obvious which method has the most power.
Facilitating the introspective process in another
person requires patience and time, and the great
ones are willing to invest. The amateur wants
instant results, but pros know this rarely occurs.
The payoff for the pro comes not only in the form of increased productivity, but also in
the connection created between manager and employee. Once an emotional creature is con-
vinced that you care about what she thinks and how she feels, it sets the stage for emotional
bonding to occur. Managers and leaders who lead this way lose very few of their people to
rival companies because of this bond. In the age of the mind, facilitated introspection is the
core process of leadership.
Champions Lead Through
Facilitated Introspection
10
“The great managers and
leaders of the future will
know more about their
people than ever before.
They’ll know their emotional
hot buttons as well as the
essence of what makes them
tick. Through facilitated
introspection, these leaders
will create a competitive
immunity for their compa-
nies by reigniting the ame
of loyalty that burns within
their people.”
– Steve Siebold
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
Action Step for Today: Invest 20 min-
utes today leading someone through the
introspective process. Your rst question
should be: Tell me what you really want
out of life more than anything else? Your
goal should be to make the person com-
fortable enough to answer you in terms
of how she feels, rather than how she
thinks. Once she begins to explain her
feelings, follow up with these questions:
1) What exactly do you mean by that?
2) What does that look like?
3) Why do you feel that way?
4) Tell me more about that.
5) Why is that important to you?
6) What does having that mean to you?
11
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
The Great Ones Know
They Are Unaware
“Everyone is operating and
running their lives at their
current level of conscious
awareness.”
– Carlos Marin,
speaker and author
C
hampions have come so far in raising their level
of awareness that they realize there is always a
higher level. Average people have a world view
that says being comfortable with who and where they
are in life is the key to happiness. The great ones have
a world view that says happiness is learning, growing
and becoming. School is never out for champions. The
more they learn, the more they realize how much they
don’t know. While average people seek mental comfort,
the world class believes mental comfort is the death of growth. They live by this phrase:
‘You’re either growing or dying; stagnation does not exist in the universe.’ Like the child
who always asks “why,” champions always ask questions of other top performers in an
effort to get a new take on an old idea. Their ongoing mental growth reinforces their belief
of another level of conscious awareness that can make them more successful, more fullled
and happier.
12
Action Step for Today: Ask
yourself this critical thinking
question: Am I growing or
dying? If your answer is
dying, make the decision
today to become more aware
and begin growing.
World-Class Resource:
Get a copy of The Hand-
book to Higher Conscious-
ness, by Ken Keyes Jr.
This timeless classic will
provoke you to think at a
higher level.
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
Champions Develop
World-Class Beliefs
Long Before They Become Champions
O
ne of the major distinctions between average
performers and champions is their belief
system. Like champions, average people tend
to be a product of their mental programming from
childhood. People of inuence, such as parents, teach-
ers, coaches, religious leaders, and others were the pri-
mary builders and shapers of our early belief systems. In most cases, this programming
is limiting because it comes from people who believe they are limited. That’s why aver-
age people are saddled with a set of beliefs that are more about survival than success. Aver-
age people have been programmed to avoid pain at all costs, which promotes a ‘playing
not to lose’ mentality. Many world-class performers were raised with these same beliefs,
yet learned to reprogram themselves somewhere along the way. Champions learn how
to develop empowering beliefs and invest a substantial amount of time solidifying those
beliefs, mostly through their own self-talk. With guidance from coaches and mentors,
champions monitor the words they use. They know reprogramming is a never-ending
activity. Some people even consider this process ‘positive brainwashing.’ When aspiring
champions learn they can program any belief they wish, and through repetitious, ongoing
self-talk, build that belief into a foundation for their consciousness, it’s a revelation. A
world-class belief system can be created from scratch, no matter what your age, upbring-
ing or current lot in life. A world-class belief system is a primary factor in the making of
a champion, and every great performer knows it. While average people see champions as
more intelligent, the champions know better. The truth is that intelligence plays a small
part. Belief is the real star of the show.
“They can . . . because they
think they can.”
– Unknown
13
Action Step for Today: Make a list of your most closely held
beliefs, and begin the process of questioning whether they are
serving you or holding you back. Question their validity. Are
they relevant, or out of date? Knowing that behavior follows
belief, give yourself an opportunity to discard or upgrade any
beliefs that limit you.
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
World-Class Resource: Rent the movie Rudy.
This true story of one man’s dream to become a
Notre Dame football player clearly demonstrates
the power of belief. As you’re watching, ask this
critical thinking question: “Do I believe in myself
as much as Rudy had to in order to accomplish
his dream? If not, how can I change or upgrade
my belief to catapult my mental power?”
14
Parents, teachers, coaches, ministers, friends,
relatives, and other people of inuence in a
child’s life say to the child: “This is Fact.”
Child accepts elders’ perception of what is fact --
even if elder is completely wrong.
Child unconsciously ingrains these beliefs in his/
her subconscious, and builds habits accordingly.
Child grows into an adult operating under dozens
of faulty beliefs and habits, but is not consciously
aware of it.
Adult operates under false and limiting beliefs
and sets invisible boundaries for his/her life at
an unconscious level.
THE EVOLUTION OF A BELIEF SYSTEM
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
15
Champions Embrace Relativity
T
he masses measure and assign value to
things based on their own perspective. The
world class is much more discerning in their
thought processes. They realize all things are rela-
tive. This is most apparent in their life vision. Most
people typically won’t invest the time to create a
vision and commit it to paper, yet the few who do
tend to aim low as a result of their own limited per-
spective and beliefs. Ask champions if their vision
is big, and they are likely to respond, “Compared
to what?” The great ones develop the unique abil-
ity to measure beyond their own perspective. This
is one of the secrets which enables them to reach for
goals and dreams far exceeding anything they have
accomplished in the past. The goal, dream or vision
may be big to them, but to a bigger champion with
a broader perspective, it’s child’s play. This critical
thinking skill removes the intimidation factor and raises their level of expectation. Is a mil-
lion dollars a lot of money? The masses would say, “yes.” The world class asks, “Com-
pared to what?” Compared to a dollar, a million dollars is a lot of money. Compared to one
hundred million dollars, it’s not much at all. Don’t underestimate this seemingly minute
subtlety, because adopting this one simple principle could transform your perception of
every aspect of your life.
“The great ones are highly
aware of the fact that all
perceptions are based on the
experience and belief of the
beholder. This is the reason
they surround themselves
with people who think much
bigger than they do. Beliefs
and expectations are con-
tagious, and champions are
eager to catch as much as they
can.”
– Steve Siebold
Action Step for Today: Listen to how people around
you measure the size and scope of things. When you
hear someone placing a value on something, using their
own perspective as a reference point, challenge them.
For example, if someone says, “This is a huge project,
Bob,” reply, “Really. Compared to what?” Try this and
see the reaction you get.
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
The World Class
Compartmentalizes Emotions
“Nothing external to you has
any power over you.”
– Ralph Waldo Emerson,
1803-1882,
minister, speaker, writer
P
rofessional performers make the difcult look
easy. They’re able to manage multiple prob-
lems and maintain emotional control while
solving each problem individually. Average people
get bogged down in the details of every little problem
and become overwhelmed quickly. Professional per-
formers compartmentalize each problem and create
a mental/emotional separation between the person
and the problem. Pros don’t engage in the emotional aspects of each problem; they focus
on a logical solution and then put it aside so they can focus on the next challenge. In
our Mental Toughness University seminar, we call this The Presidential Problem-Solving
Technique. The idea: the President of the United States has multiple life-and-death deci-
sions to make daily, and must possess the ability to place each problem in a mental box
that separates it from all the other problems of the day. The ability to compartmentalize
problems is a hallmark of great leaders. Champions know every problem has a logical solu-
tion (at best) or a practical strategy (at least) which can make things a little better. While
amateurs get tangled in emotions, professionals are grounded in logical problem solving.
Compartmentalization allows champions to work on and solve one problem at a time, with-
out the emotions of one problem bleeding into the solutions of the others.
Action Step for Today:
Commit to compartmental-
izing problems by focusing
exclusively on one problem
at a time. Imagine you are
the President of the United
States. You must keep a
clear, unemotional mind
during the problem-solving
process. The masses multi-
task. The great ones focus.
16
World-Class Resource:
Read The Emotional
Revolution, by Norman
Rosenthal, M.D.
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
17
T
he world class is famous for using non linear
thinking as a primary problem solving strat-
egy, and nowhere is this more apparent than
when it comes to heightening their creativity. While
amateurs become increasingly stressed during prob-
lem solving, the great ones become more relaxed to
enhance their creative ability. Champions know the
ultimate creative force is located somewhere beyond
our everyday consciousness, and they must tap this
source to generate their best ideas. The secular sometimes refer to this source as the uncon-
scious mind. The spiritual often call it God. Whatever label their belief warrants, few deny
the power of the source, whatever its point of origin. Champions know the fastest way
to connect to the source is through gratitude. Thoughts and feelings of gratitude seem to
elevate the performers’ consciousness to a higher plane than is accessible through any other
means. Professional writers call it being connected. Athletes call it being in the zone. Psy-
chologists refer to it as a state of ow. No matter what name you assign it, the experience is
the same. It’s a process that begins by letting go and mentally detaching from the end result
or outcome of any task. The focus is on being, as opposed to doing. While both amateurs
and pros experience this phenomenon from time to time, the great ones are able to access
it much more often because they are aware of the triggers that create a mental climate con-
ducive to this state of mind. Gratitude is the mindset of choice when they need to awaken
the giant and tap their genius.
“Gratitude is the aristocrat
of all of the emotions.”
– Bill Gove,
1912-2001, the father of
professional speaking
Action Step for Today: Make
a list of the ten things you
are most grateful for in your
life, and review them every
morning for the next seven
days. Monitor how this activity
impacts your emotions.
The World Class Connects
To The Source Through Gratitude
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
Champions Know Adversity Is
The Catalyst Of Mental Toughness
C
hampions believe if you remove the adversity, you
remove the victory. As a result, they tend to view
adversity as a challenge through which learning
and growing occurs. Their world view is evident in the
way they describe the adversities they face. While aver-
age people choose the path of least resistance, world-class
performers operate at a higher level of awareness. They
understand that stress and struggle are the key factors in
becoming mentally tough. While average people watch
television and hang out at happy hour, the great ones con-
tinue to push themselves mentally and physically to the
point of exhaustion. Only then will you see them in rest and recovery situations. Adversity,
to average people, equals pain. Adversity, to world-class performers, is their mental train-
ing ground. It’s how they become mentally tough. Average people scorn adversity. Those
who are world class don’t welcome adversity; yet they see it as the ultimate catalyst for
mental growth, as well as the contrast needed to recognize the beauty of life.
“If it weren’t for the
dark days, we wouldn’t
know what it is to walk
in the light.”
– Earl Campbell,
professional
football player
18
World-Class Resource: Read Man’s
Search for Meaning, by Viktor Fran-
kel. It is the true story of how one
man learned to control his thoughts,
feelings and attitudes as a prisoner
of war. It’s a classic that should be a
part of every champion’s library.
Action Step for Today: List the three most difcult adver-
sities you have faced and ve good things that happened
to you as a result of each one. Train yourself to see the
good in adversity, and your fear of future challenges will
dissipate.
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
The Great Ones
Do It All With Class
T
rue champions have class, and they consis-
tently conduct themselves in a manner con-
gruent with their self-image. While amateur
performers publicly gloat in their victories and
agonize in their defeats, professional performers
tend to keep a low prole during times of great
success, and during times of failure. Another hall-
mark of the great ones is their humility after tri-
umph. They tend to project themselves in the same
manner whether they are winning or losing. When
they win, they love to share the credit with the
team, and when they lose, they assume 100 %
responsibility. This high-class approach to perfor-
mance opens doors which propel champions to even greater success. The great ones like to
associate and do business with people who know how to handle themselves, especially in
adverse situations under pressure. This is one of the primary distinctions between the upper
class and the world class. The ego-driven upper class must win at any cost; the spirit-driven
world class insists on following a strict code of ethics. The great ones have the character to
do what’s right, and they do it all with class.
Action Step for Today:
Make a list of the ve
things you would like the
following groups of people
to say about your conduct:
1) Your family
2) Your friends
3) Your customers
Now go to work and
become this person.
19
World-Class Resource: To further
polish your personal and profes-
sional behavior, attend a seminar
from Jacqueline Whitmore, direc-
tor of the Protocol School of
Palm Beach. Sign up for their
free newsletter by going to
www.etiqetteexpert.com
“There is no mat space for mal-
contents or dissenters. One must
neither celebrate too insanely
when he wins or sulk when he
loses. He accepts victory profes-
sionally and humbly. He hates
defeat, but makes no poor dis-
play of it.”
– Dan Gable,
collegiate wrestling legend
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
Champions Make
‘Do or Die’ Commitments
“You cannot keep a com-
mitted person from success.
Place stumbling blocks in
his way, and he takes them
for stepping-stones, and on
them he will climb to great-
ness. Take away his money,
and he makes spurs of his
poverty to urge him on. The
person who succeeds has a
program; he xes his course
and adheres to it; he lays his
plans and executes them; he
goes straight to his goal. He
is not pushed this side and
that every time a difculty
is thrust in his way. If he
can’t get over it, he goes
through it.”
– George Gilder,
author
I
f there was ever one word that dened the cham-
pion, the word would be commitment. When
everyone else is tired, exhausted and burned
out from the battle, the great ones are just getting
warmed up. It’s not that they don’t fatigue; but their
commitment to their dream keeps them going. Aver-
age people think it would be nice to achieve their
goals, as long as it doesn’t get too uncomfortable
or painful. Champions don’t recognize pain, because
they have made a commitment to do what it takes
to win. Amateur performers make a commitment
and approach it like a hobby. Professional perform-
ers make a commitment and approach it like a war,
knowing they will have to endure an unknown level
of suffering along the road to victory. Amateur per-
formers always question the price they have to pay
for success; champions pay whatever price it takes to
win. This small difference in mental strategy makes
all the difference in the world. Commitment is more
about making a decision to do whatever it takes to
succeed than anything else, yet only the pros seem to
be able to get themselves to make these decisions.
20
Action Step for Today: Make a list of
the ve most important things you are
committed to in your life, and ask this
critical thinking question: “Are my habits,
actions and behaviors congruent with my
commitments?”
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
The World Class
Is Consistently Great
“Plenty of men can do good work
for a spurt with immediate promo-
tion in mind, but for promotion,
you want a man in whom good
work has become a habit.”
– Henry Doherty,
American Industrialist
A
lot of performers are capable of out-
standing performance, but the great
ones all have one thing in common:
consistency. Day after day, they perform at the
very highest levels. The reason they are so con-
sistent is because their actions are congruent
with their thought processes. Champions usu-
ally have a very clear mental picture of what
they want, why they want it, and how to move
closer to their target objective. While average
people are complaining about the sacrices they
have to make to be great, the champions have already made those decisions and continue
to move forward. Erratic performance is the result of erratic thinking, so the rst step
in mental toughness training is gaining mental clarity. Champions invest an inordinate
amount of time thinking, planning and clarifying their goals and targets, as well as mapping
out an exact action plan for attainment. Consistency in performance is the direct result of
knowing why it is necessary to perform well and the benets that will accrue, especially
when the going gets tough and the pain sets in. Consistency is also created by practice.
Champions are usually thought of as the people with the most talent, and sometimes this
is true. Yet champions are known to invest large blocks of time practicing their craft long
after everyone else has gone home. Practice may not make perfect, but it does create con-
sistency in performance.
21
Action Step for Today: To gain mental clarity and focus, create a written
vision for your life. Imagine your life ve to ten years in the future and list
all you have done, accumulated and become during this time. Use the letter
to a friend format that we use in our corporate Mental Toughness University
program. Write a letter to a friend – real or imaginary – and date it from
ve to ten years in the future. Let your creative mind freewheel, without any
thought of how you will achieve any of these things. Be sure to include as
many details and as much emotion as possible. When you have a world-
class vision for your life, you’ve taken the rst step to world-class perfor-
mance.
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
22
World-Class Resource: Sign up
for the Mental Toughness University
one-day seminar and 12 month fol-
low-up process. Learn more by visiting
www.mentaltoughnessuniversity.com
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
Champions Understand
Logic vs. Emotion
A
mateur managers, coaches and leaders
tend to favor either a logic-based
approach to performance or an emo-
tion-based approach. The pros know the magic
is in the mix. When it comes to strategic plan-
ning and business acumen, straight logic is
essential. Emotion creates confusion when it
comes to linear thought. This is why amateurs
in the business world have repeated the idea
that there is no place for emotion in business.
Professional leaders know this is ridiculous. As
you know, human beings are emotional crea-
tures driven by emotional motivators like love,
recognition, belonging, pride, values, etc. The
list goes on and on. To ignore the role emotion
plays in performance is to disregard the power of the re that burns within a person’s soul.
The real distinction between amateur leaders and pros that amateurs motivate through logic
and the great ones motivate through emotion. Logic is great for planning, but weak for
motivation. Trying to inspire an emotional creature by appealing to their sense of logic is
amateur at best, and stupid at worst. In twenty years of studying and working with leaders,
only a small percentage has really understood this in the business world. In the world of
professional sports, it’s a different story. Many top coaches use emotional motivation bril-
liantly. The best example may be Herb Brooks, who motivated the U.S. Olympic Hockey
team in 1980 to pull one of the greatest upsets in history. Emotional motivation has the
power to drive a team beyond what they actually believe is possible. The sheer force of
the collective emotion is so overwhelming that it mentally elevates the consciousness of
the individual performers, which enables them to tap into a higher level of intelligence.
The secular philosophy is that the performers are able to access more of their brain when
they are operating in this altered state of consciousness. The spiritual philosophy says that
performers have raised their rate of vibration to the same frequency as the force that cre-
ated the universe. While champions’ belief in the source of this power varies, they all know
that the process begins with emotional motivation.
23
“The arena was so loud, the emo-
tion so great. Everybody was going
crazy. I remember thinking, ‘Stay
with it. Don’t get swept up.’ The
hotter it gets, the cooler you have
to get. I remember thinking of one
word in my mind--‘miraculous.’”
– Al Michaels,
sports announcer,
commenting on the 1980
U.S. Olympic Hockey Team
victory over the Soviet Union
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
Action Step for Today: Watch the
movie Miracle. This lm is the story of
the 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey team
victory over the Soviet Union. Notice
how coach Herb Brooks uses emotion
to mold a group of individuals into a
world-class team.
24
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
“When presented with a new
idea, check your ego at the
door and suspend your disbe-
lief. Your ability to open your
mind and consider new ideas
without fear will propel you to
the top faster than anything
else.”
– Bill Gove,
1912-2001, the father of
professional speaking
T
he world class is the most open-minded group
of people you will ever meet, which is one
of the reasons for their tremendous success.
While amateur thinkers are convinced they have g-
ured out how the world works, champions are not so
sure, and are open to new ways of looking at old prob-
lems. In other words, champions are willing to sus-
pend their disbelief until they evaluate the facts. The
great ones are ready to change at a moment’s notice
if they are convinced something can be done faster,
cheaper or better. A great example is in the network
marketing profession, where sales reps recruit other
sales reps and are compensated with an override on
their recruit’s volume. Strong companies with quality
products and services are able to grow at an alarmingly accelerated rate with this reproduc-
tive recruiting model. Network marketing has single handedly changed the face of distribu-
tion for the better, yet has still not been fully embraced by amateur thinkers who insist
on clinging to the past. Franchising faced the same scorn years ago from amateurs who
didn’t understand it and refused to open their minds to innovation and progress. The great
ones capitalized on that concept and made history with companies like McDonald’s, Radio
Shack and Blockbuster Video, while the masses took years to accept this brilliant business
idea as legitimate. The heart of the champions’ open-minded attitude is in their spirit-based
consciousness, which is a mindset devoid of the need to hold on to the past. Most new
ideas with the power to revolutionize people’s lives never make it past the amateurs’ ego,
which is rooted in fear of the unknown and marked by pre-judgment, pretense and frustra-
tion. While the masses are dying from mental stagnation, the pros grow healthier everyday
by entertaining thoughts of abundance and keeping their fertile minds open to life and suc-
cessful living.
Champions Are Willing To
Suspend Their Disbelief
25
Action Step for Today: Think back to the last time someone
approached you with a new idea that you were quick to dismiss,
and give it a second chance. Suspend your disbelief, open your
mind and give it careful consideration. What have you got to lose?
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
The World Class
Is Ferociously Cooperative
“You can employ men and hire
hands to work for you, but you
must win their hearts to have
them work with you.”
– William Boetcker,
1873-1962, Presbyterian
minister, success lecturer
P
rofessional performers are the most coop-
erative people in the world, because they
know it takes a team to achieve anything
worthwhile. Their cooperation stems from their
desire to win. They know they cannot do it alone.
Amateurs tend to be more ego involved and prefer
to act as lone wolves, so they can boast they are
self-made. Champions don’t need to take all of the
credit, and as a rule, enjoy sharing the accolades
with their team. Champions believe the whole is
greater than the sum of the parts when it comes to achievement. These people have a tre-
mendous ability to persuade others to join forces with them, and work in a spirit of fero-
cious cooperation. Achievement has less to do with stroking their egos and more to do with
personal growth and development – not just their own, but also that of the team. Champi-
ons get as big a kick from watching a team member grow in the process of achieving the
goal as they do in actually achieving the goal. They realize the true value of achievement is
as a catalyst for growth. Generally speaking, the more cooperative the champion, the more
successful they tend to be. The great individual is no match for the great team.
26
Action Step for Today: Rate yourself on your level of
cooperation. In your opinion, you are:
1 - Very cooperative with others
2 - Somewhat cooperative
3 - Not very cooperative
4 - Not cooperative at all
If you rate a 2, 3, or 4, ask yourself if you are allowing your
ego to get in the way. If the answer is yes, check your ego
at the door and become a team player.
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
Champions Are Curious
T
he great ones are always curious, because
they are always looking for an edge. At
the root of their curiosity is the belief that
one new idea, or one new twist on an old idea,
could launch them to the next level. While aver-
age people tend to take things at face value, world-
class performers are curious to know how and why
something works in an effort to make new distinc-
tions that may benet them. Champions have a childlike curiosity, and tend to approach the
world with a mindset that says, “teach me.” Their world view tells them there is much more
to learn in even the simplest aspects of life. The more they know, the more they realize
how much they don’t know about anything, including their own expertise. They approach
their work with the mindset of a beginner – eager to learn and open to new ideas. Profes-
sional performers are curious to see how beginners view their performance eld, and want
to see if anything can be learned from people who are seeing what they do for the rst
time. Champions are masters at learning from other people’s experiences because they are
always asking questions. Their curiosity accelerates their growth through lessons learned
vicariously.
“Curiosity is one of the most per-
manent and certain characteris-
tics of a vigorous intellect.”
– Samuel Johnson,
1709-1784, writer
27
Action Step for Today: The
next time you are socializing with
friends or associates, see how
many questions you can ask each
about what they do and why they
do it. Get as many details as
possible. Most people are full of
great suggestions for solving prob-
lems, yet no one asks for their
opinion. Your curiosity, combined
with a beginner’s mindset, may
yield unexpected solutions you can
implement immediately.
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
The Great Ones Possess
Supreme Confidence
“I felt like I could score at will.”
– Jack Maitland,
1970 Super Bowl champion
fullback, speaking of his
college football career
A
nother great word to distinguish world-
class performers from average people is
condence. Some people are raised by
condence-building parents, teachers and coaches,
yet they are in the minority. Most champions real-
ized they were responsible for developing their
own condence at some point, and programmed
themselves through a series of ongoing tech-
niques. These programming strategies might include mental imagery and visualization
techniques, meditation, sports, martial arts, learning a new language or musical
instrument, or losing weight and going on an exercise regimen. All these strategies
contribute to boosting self-condence, but the two fastest, most powerful ways to sky-
rocket self-condence I’ve ever seen are:
1) Changing the language you use when you talk to yourself and others. Positive self-talk
can literally change your life in ninety days, if you really stick to it. You can reprogram
your entire belief system just by changing the words you use when you talk to yourself.
I’ve read volumes of books on this subject, and the best one is called What to Say When
You Talk to Yourself, by Shad Helmstetter, Ph.D. This book is written in simple language
and explains how the change process works.
2) Learning to be a procient and entertaining public speaker. When you can stand in front
of a group of people and communicate effectively, it catapults your condence into the
stratosphere. Most world-class business people are strong speakers.
28
Action Step for Today: Ask your three closest
friends this question: On a scale of 1 to 7, 7 being
most condent, how much condence do I proj-
ect? This will give you an idea of how the world
is responding to you.
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
World-Class Resource: To upgrade
the quality of your self-talk, purchase
Shad Helmstetter’s book, What to Say
When You Talk to Yourself. I read this
book in 1986 and it changed my life.
I would also recommend that you get
a free subscription to ‘The Greatest
Things Ever Said about Public Speak-
ing,’ a free weekly e-mail. To sign up,
go to www.speechseminar.com
29
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
Champions Evolve
From Competing to Creating
“Creative people rarely
need to be motivated--they
have their own inner drive
that refuses to be bored.
They refuse to be compla-
cent. They live on the edge,
which is precisely what
is needed to be successful
and remain successful.”
– Donald Trump,
real estate developer
A
verage performers live their lives in rst gear,
resisting change and avoiding risk. The masses
have the same talent and opportunity as the
world class; yet choose to play it safe to avoid the
pain of failure and the agony of (temporary) defeat. At
Mental Toughness University, we have a scale called
The Five Levels of Mental Toughness, which is a tool
to help people determine at what level they are perform-
ing. The rst level is called Playing Not to Lose, which
is doing just enough to avoid getting red. The next
level up is Playing To Cruise, which is mentally cruis-
ing through the job without really engaging in any
serious thought. The next level is Playing to Improve,
which is when performers begin to actively engage
their thoughts and feelings in the task at hand, attempting to get better. The level above this
is Playing To Compete, which is when performers begin to believe they are capable of beat-
ing out their competition and being the best. This level is primarily ego-driven where win-
ning is the main objective. Performers operating at this level often become very successful
and powerful, but are sometimes left with hollow feelings of “Is this all there is?” The high-
est level is Playing to Win, which occurs when the performer moves from competition to
creation, where the primary goal is to be the best they can be. Knowing that creativity and
fear cannot co-exist, these people are competing only with themselves with the objective
of being better today than they were yesterday. The Playing to Win philosophy is rooted
in a spirit-based consciousness operating from thoughts of love and abundance. Fear and
scarcity have no place at this level of thinking. These performers are fearlessly seeking
what Dr. Abraham Maslow referred to as Self-Actualization, or becoming all that one has
the potential to become. The most powerful belief performers operating at this level pos-
sess is that they cannot fail; they can only learn and grow. With their potential in front and
their fear behind them, champions are able to move beyond the boundaries of competition
and create what the masses believe is impossible.
30
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
Action Step for Today: Examine the 5 Levels of Mental
Toughness and identify the level you inhabit most often
in performance situations. Make a commitment to spend
as much time at the Playing To Win level as possible.
PLAYING NOT TO LOSE - “I better perform or I’ll be in trouble.”
PLAYING TO CRUISE - “As long as I continue to perform, I can cruise.”
PLAYING TO IMPROVE - “Maybe I can accomplish more than I
thought. Maybe I’m better than I think I am.”
PLAYING TO COMPETE - “I think I can be the best!”
PLAYING
TO
WIN -
An event awakens the performer
and triggers inner wisdom.
Performer starts to see his/her per-
formance as a game in which there
is no way to lose.
New success expands
the belief system
Belief-altering
event occurs
triggering a
new thought
process
Performer is driven by spirit
instead of ego, devoid of pre-
tense, and totally focused. Fear
does not exist at this level, only
love.
Performer is power-
ful, but still driven by
ego gratication.
5 LEVELS OF MENTAL TOUGHNESS
31
“I cannot fail, I can only learn and
grow. The only person I’m compet-
ing with is myself. I no longer feel fear,
because it’s impossible for me to lose. I feel
so grateful just to have an opportunity to be
the best I can be. I see my performance as the
primary catalyst of my self-actualization. I don’t
have to be who I’ve always been. I learn and I grow;
that’s how I win.
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
Champions Remember Their Roots
P
rofessional performers start out as ama-
teurs, just like everyone else, and they
never forget it. While the masses see this
as humility, the great ones see it as strategy. They
know the lessons they learned on Main Street are
just as valuable on Wall Street. The great ones
never forget where they came from. This strategy
keeps them grounded and enables them to relate
to middle-class performers struggling to go pro.
This empathy for amateurs makes them tremen-
dous managers, coaches and leaders. Champions
often cultivate this habit by staying connected to
people who helped lift them to the top, and by
giving back to the community in which they were
raised. The world class is always reaching for
the stars while keeping their feet on the ground.
This high level of consciousness is revealed in
the language they use in conversation. You’ll
hear them speak about the gratitude they feel for all of the people who contributed to their
success and fulllment. While the masses are still angry over the injustices of their past, the
champions are grateful and giving back. As a result of this abundance-based mindset, their
blessings are multiplied many times over. The great ones know success is a self-fullling
prophecy, and remembering their roots reminds them of not only where they came from,
but also what it took to get them where they are now. Revisiting their climb to the top rein-
forces their belief in themselves and gives them even more condence to move ahead in the
present and future. This is one of the ways champions build the psychological momentum
necessary to propel them from success to success.
Action Step for Today: Invest ten minutes today remember-
ing your roots and what it took to get you where you are now.
Write a note or place a call to someone who helped you along
the way and thank him or her for what they did for you. Pay
special attention to how taking these actions makes you feel.
“We usually think of advice as
something that someone tells us,
but I learned my most valuable les-
sons in life by example, by watch-
ing people around me both when
I was growing up and when I was
trying to stay true, in my business
career, to the values they taught
me. Yet, if there is one piece of
advice that has been important to
me, it is “Always remember where
you came from.”
– John J. Mack,
Co-CEO, Credit Suisse Group
32
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
The World Class
Never Bows To Criticism
“You can’t let praise or
criticism get to you. It’s a
weakness to get caught up
in either one.”
– John Wooden,
Hall of Fame basketball
coach, University of
California Los Angeles
M
ental toughness, broken down to its root, is
really about becoming a master of your emo-
tions in performance situations, especially
under pressure. The fastest way to differentiate an ama-
teur from a pro is to observe how they respond to
criticism. Amateurs are shocked when they are criti-
cized, and many are emotionally wounded. Professional
performers expect criticism as a part of being a cham-
pion and are rarely rattled by it. The mentally tough
expect little from their amateur-thinking counterparts,
and when they are criticized, they often sum it up as
amateurs mud slinging. Professional performers rarely criticize other people – they’re too
busy working and practicing to get wrapped up in other people’s business. They don’t deal
in personalities; they deal in ideas. Professional performers aren’t surprised by criticism
from average people. They realize they are a mirror into which amateurs look, only to see
themselves for what they really are – average. World-class performers make them look lazy
and unmotivated by comparison, and they resent it, so they lash out and criticize. Mean-
while, champions ignore the criticism and go back to work.
Action Step for Today:
Decide to separate your
emotions from other peo-
ple’s criticism of you. Refuse
to talk about other people
or gossip about their behav-
ior. Focus only on ideas
that can help you fulll your
vision.
33
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
Champions Believe In Choice
“Everything can be taken
from a man but one thing:
the last of the human free-
doms – to choose one’s
attitude in any given set
of circumstances, to choose
one’s own way.”
– Viktor Frankel,
1905-1997, psychiatrist,
author, and lecturer
J
ust as amateurs see themselves as victims of cir-
cumstance, professional performers believe they
possess the ultimate human freedom – the power
to choose. Average people get out of bed in the morning
and say, “I have to go to work.” Champions know they
don’t have to do anything they choose not to do. This
mindset impacts every decision of both amateurs and
professionals. Amateurs feel they are at the mercy of
the gods; professionals carefully construct a life based
on a series of choices they make. This sense of control
increases the professionals’ ambitious drive. It’s also
one of the reasons champions appear to be so much
happier than average people. They know their choices
really control their destiny. They believe they can be
anyone they want to be, do anything they want to do, and have anything they want to have.
Their belief in this concept becomes a self-fullling prophecy, which builds psychological
momentum and makes the belief stronger every day.
34
Action Step for Today: Make a list of the things you feel
you have no choice about doing, and revisit each one. Do
you really have to do them, or are you choosing to do them?
Could some of the less desirable things be omitted simply
by making a choice? Delusion says you must do these
things. Objective reality says you always have a choice,
because you are always in control.
World-Class Resource: Read
Choice Theory, by Dr. William
Glasser. This is a great book
that removes any sense of victim
mentality any of us may have.
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
The World Class
Embraces Metacognition
“Of course we become
what we think about. The
real question is, “Do we
know what we are think-
ing about?”
– Steve Siebold
W
hen it comes to thoughts, feelings and attitudes, the masses are heavily inu-
enced by external forces, like a pinball being bounced around from bumper to
bumper. Their outer world determines their inner world. World-class thinkers
are just the opposite. Knowing their thoughts control their feelings, the great ones have
adopted the habit of thinking about . . . what they think about. Psychologists refer to this as
“Metacognition.” This championship habit enables the performer to get to the root of the
thoughts that bring about both positive and negative feelings. Once the performer is aware
of the thoughts that are ultimately creating his results,
he has the power to change any thought he chooses. In
essence, metacognition enables the performer to take
control of his thought processes. This makes the cham-
pions’ reality directly opposite of the masses, in that the
great ones’ inner world determines their outer world. In
other words, the results they achieve on the outside are
dictated by the thoughts they have on the inside. The
masses are victims of their own thoughts. They have
the same potential for greatness as the pros do, yet are
simply not paying attention to what they are allowing to enter their minds, and the results
are disastrous. Meanwhile, the world class is thriving on upgraded thoughts that are mani-
festing tremendous results. They know that the better they become at controlling their
thoughts, the better their results will be, and it all begins with metacognition.
Action Step for Today: Take your emo-
tional temperature today and assess your
mood. Ask this critical thinking question:
“How did I end up in this mood?” What
thoughts did you process that put you in
this mood?
35
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
36
Professional Performers Don’t
Require Immediate Compensation
M
ost people are fully engaged in microwave
thinking – a deep belief that compensation
should immediately follow any effort. Cham-
pions are different. They believe every effort performed
with good intention yields some form of compensation
at some point. People become champions by perfecting
their competencies until other people label them ‘cham-
pion.’ In most cases, this label took years of hard work
and sacrice to achieve, with little or no apparent com-
pensation along the way. Many of the great ones were
ridiculed and criticized for investing so many hours in
the development of their core competency. Not swayed by amateur opinion, they pushed
forward aggressively. This delayed gratication set the stage for all future battle plans for
achievement in the minds of champions. When professional performers set a big goal,
they are expecting a ght – and their past experience has preconditioned their minds for
battle. When amateurs expect compensation, pros are just settling in for the ght. Their
willingness to delay gratication and compensation makes them more valuable in the mar-
ketplace.
“Did you think you could
have the good without
the evil? Did you think
you could have the joy
without the sorrow?”
– David Grayson,
professor and author
Action Step for Today: Ask this
critical thinking question: “Am I
more interested in pleasure, or grat-
ication?” Amateurs focus on plea-
sure-based activities that deliver
short and sweet payoffs. Profes-
sionals focus on gratication-based
activities that take longer to achieve
but deliver long and deep payoffs.
Into which category do you fall?
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
Champions Embrace
Conflict For Growth
A
verage performers will do almost anything to avoid conict. World-class perform-
ers not only welcome it, but embrace it. Amateurs derive their approach from
an emotional perspective, while professionals ground their approach in logic. An
emotional response comes from the fear of suffering a bruised ego, because average people
would rather be accepted by others than realize a supe-
rior solution to a problem. Conict represents a seri-
ous emotional threat to fragile constitutions. The great
ones see conict not as a threat, but as an opportunity
to gain a three-dimensional perspective on a problem.
The pros operate at a higher level of consciousness and
don’t care who gets the credit for solving the problem.
Logic dictates their actions and opens their minds to
the possibility that the opposition may be right. Cham-
pions see conict as a healthy function of checks and
balances in an organization. Dictatorships and organi-
zations which suppress conict are too tightly bound
to allow opportunities for growth. Organizations which
welcome or embrace conict are destined to evolve
exponentially from the combined brainpower of the
group.
“A good manager doesn’t
try to eliminate conict,
he tries to keep it from
wasting the energies of his
people. If you’re the boss
and your people ght you
openly when they think
you’re wrong – that’s
healthy.”
– Robert Townsend,
former CEO,
Avis Rent-a-Car
Action Step for Today: Ask this critical think-
ing question: “Am I emotionally addicted to
the approval of others?” If your answer is yes,
make a commitment to break this addiction
immediately.
37
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
Champions Are
Comeback Artists
W
hen Donald Trump was $9 billion dollars
in debt in the early 1990s, did you really
believe he was washed up for good? After
Lance Armstrong survived cancer, did anyone really
think he wouldn’t race again? How about Christopher
Reeve? Did anyone really bet against him making an
international impact to help people with spinal cord
injuries, once he made the decision to do it? There’s
an old saying among the world class: “A bet against a
champion is a bad bet.” I couldn’t agree more. Ama-
teurs quickly become demoralized by setbacks and
defeat, and quietly slink back to their comfort zones.
Professional performers know that large-scale success is based on a series of comebacks.
They believe that setbacks are set-ups for comebacks. Amateurs often make the mistake
of counting professionals out when things get tough. The average person grossly underes-
timates the level of mental toughness that champions possess. The great ones will come-
back out of nowhere, just when everyone has counted them out. Emotionally speaking,
they don’t really understand the concept of giving up. I don’t mean this as an insult. They
understand how to quit intellectually. But emotionally, they have been hard wired through
years of world-class programming to focus on a vision and persevere at any cost. This is
why rock-solid character is critical to this group. The only thing that can stop this speed-
ing locomotive from its destination is the potential harm or destruction of others. The great
ones never sacrice people for success. The upper class is so ego-driven they often run over
anyone who gets in their way. The world class, guided by their spirit-based consciousness,
will only proceed toward their visions if their actions are fair to all parties concerned. Once
this has been established, the champions fail again and again; yet continue coming back
for more. On the physical plane, we call it perseverance. On the mental plane, we call it
toughness. On the spiritual plane, we call it artistry.
“I’m going to the top of
the mountain. You’re either
going to see me waving
from the top or dead on the
side. But you know what?
I’m not coming down.”
– Eric Worre,
author, speaker
38
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
Action Step for Today: Identify a goal or dream in
your life that you have given up on, and ask this
critical thinking question: “Is it possible to make a
comeback in this area, and breathe new life into this
old dream?” You’re a tougher, more competent per-
former than you were back when you abandoned
this dream. Are you good enough to make a come-
back now? (Hint: YES!)
39
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
40
The Great Ones Are Masters
Of Their Work/Rest Cycles
A
verage people refuse to recognize one of the
most critical aspects of peak performance:
cycles. If human beings were robots, perfor-
mance experts like myself wouldn’t consult with our
clients about the proper use of cycles. Yet we’re not
robots. We are, primarily, emotionally driven creatures
whose level of performance is dictated by what we
believe and how we feel at any given time. Most ama-
teur performers never push themselves hard enough to
ever warrant any concern with cycles, but for champi-
ons, it can make the difference between winning and
losing. The great ones know (or are trained to know)
when to exert maximum effort and when to let their
mind and body rest. The enemy of all champions is physical and emotional burnout, and
they will go to great lengths in the performance planning process to insure burnout never
occurs more than once. Most world-class coaches will push their performers to the break-
ing point at least one time to establish how far that individual can be pushed. Every per-
former has a different tolerance for pain. When this breaking point is established, a cycle
of stress and recovery is implemented. Time off and life balance are key factors in perfor-
mance cycles – as are massive inuxes of effort. The great ones know the magic is in the
mix.
“Recovery is an important
word and a vital concept. It
means renewal of life and
energy. Knowing how and
when to recover may prove
to be the most important
skill in your life.”
– James E. Loehr, Ed.D,
author, psychologist
Action Step for Today: Give yourself a life balance
checkup. Are you investing the necessary time and energy
in the important areas of your life? What areas are you
over-stressing? What areas are you under-stressing? Think
about your current stress and recovery cycles and make
any adjustments you think are necessary for peak perfor-
mance and maximum happiness.
World-Class Resource: Read Stress for Suc-
cess, by Dr. James Loehr.
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
41
The World Class Is Coachable
C
orporate America and entrepreneurs are starting to catch on to something athletes
have always known: if you want to maximize your potential in anything, hire a
coach. Coaching is to performance what leadership is to an organization. Since
human beings are primarily emotional creatures, competent coaches are experts at stoking
the res that burn within – assuming there is already (at least) a small ame. Coaches
can’t create the ame, but the good ones can turn a small ame into a blow torch. World-
class coaches won’t even accept a client if they fail to
nd a ame inside. They know the ame is the prereq-
uisite for greatness. Average people will only accept
the amount of coaching their egos will allow. Champi-
ons are well known for being the most open to world-
class coaching. The bigger the champion, the more
open-minded they are. The great ones couldn’t care less
about ego satisfaction when it comes to improving their
results – all they’re looking for is an edge, no matter
how slight. Their logic behind this is simple: when two
champions go head to head, many times the only thing
that favors the winner is a slight edge in thinking, strategy and technique. All champions
look for that one little advantage that great coaching can provide.
“Great coaching is helping
people discover what they
already know.”
– Bill Gove,
1912-2001, the father of
professional speaking
Action Step for Today: Invest 15 minutes to
consider hiring a coach to help you get better
results. Be coachable and open-minded. You
may be surprised at what you will learn.
World-Class Resource: For private, semi-
private and small group coaching, visit
www.mentaltoughnesscollege.com
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
42
Champions Are Mentally Engaged
In The Creative Process
W
hile average people are satis-
ed with the status quo, world-
class performers are always
searching for new ideas and new ways to
interpret old ideas. They do this by tap-
ping into to the right hemisphere of their
brain, the more creative side. Champions
believe there is always a better, easier,
faster way to accomplish anything and
being creative is the way to discover it.
One of the methods they use to stoke
their creative ow is to learn, study and
be interested in a variety of different
things. The discovery of a truth in an unrelated subject could easily be transferred to a
current problem. There is a level of relativity and relationship to the order of all things,
and the great ones know it. Champions discover these truths because they pay attention –
not because they’re smarter than anyone else. The masses are not mentally engaged. Their
billion-dollar thought processing system is used for activities like watching television and
guring out how to travel the road of least resistance. Meanwhile, champions are being
mentally reborn daily as a result of making new distinctions, interpretations and discover-
ies . . . and then they use these ideas to solve their problems.
“The creative person wants to know
about all kinds of things: ancient his-
tory, nineteenth-century mathematics,
current manufacturing techniques, ower
arranging, and hog futures, because he
never knows when these ideas might
come together to form a new idea.”
– Carl Ally,
founder, Ally & Gargano Advertising
Action Step for Today: Rate
yourself on a scale of 1 to 7, 7
being most creative. Be honest.
How creative are you?
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
43
World-Class Resource: The best book
I’ve read on creativity is The Artist’s
Way, by Julia Cameron. This book will
help unlock the genius inside you. The
best speaker I’ve heard on the subject
of creativity is Gregg Fraley, of Chicago.
You can learn more about Gregg at
www.greggfraley.com
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
44
Champions Operate
With A Clear Conscience
T
he world class tends to rely on intuition and conscience much more often than the
masses. While average people are more concerned with what other people think of
their actions, professional performers answer to a jury of one: their conscience. One
reason they’re able to maintain such high levels of concentration and intensity in their eld
of expertise is because they rarely carry mental baggage. With their conscience as their
guide, champions often have greater mental clarity and internal focus than average people.
Rotary International, (www.rotary.org), an organization of business champions performing
community service on a global level, has a great tool called the four-way test. The idea is
for Rotarians to answer four questions before making any major decision.
The questions are:
1) Is it the truth?
2) Is it fair to all concerned?
3) Will it build goodwill and better friendships?
4) Will it be benecial to all concerned?
The world class often follows such formulas in making important decisions. Champions
“Reason often makes
mistakes, but conscience
never does.”
– Josh Billings,
1818-1885, writer
know they can often fool other people, but they can
never fool themselves. Amateurs pay a serious price for
making decisions that are incongruent with their con-
science, and their self-image is the rst thing that suf-
fers. The great ones know this is too high a price to pay.
Self-image expert Nathaniel Branden says, “Self-esteem
is the reputation we acquire with ourselves.” Being in
touch and living by their conscience is a hallmark of
mentally tough performers.
Action Step for Today: Ask this critical thinking question:
“Are all of my dealings congruent with my conscience?” If
the answer is yes, you empower yourself to success. If not,
consider abandoning these deals or behaviors. Universal
law dictates that whatever you sow, you shall reap.
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
45
Common Sense Is The
Foundation Of High Performance
C
hampions usually believe the essentials of life were learned in kindergarten. Their
world view is that success is simple and constructed fundamentally from common
sense. While average people search for complex answers to their problems, the
world class looks for the simple solution rst – and usually nds it. They solve more com-
plex challenges by looking at the situation as an outsider viewing it for the rst time. Larry
Wilson, the famous speaker and author, says
the great ones get out of their own way by
viewing the problem from ten thousand feet
in order to gain a new perspective. They sepa-
rate themselves from the everyday details and
gain a three-dimensional view of the prob-
lem. While average people strain to create
a solution, champions think for a while and
then create a mental distance to take their
direct focus off the problem. Many times the
answers come to them in the shower, in the middle of the night, or at the health club while
they’re working out. The law of indirect effort is one of the most powerful problem-solving
processes known to man. Champions realize the secret to tapping their true genius is some-
times hidden in the act of not trying so hard.
“Common sense is the knack of
seeing things as they are, and doing
things as they ought to be done.”
– Harriet Beecher Stowe,
1811-1896,
author of Uncle Tom’s Cabin
Action Step for Today: Write down your ve
most pressing problems and ask: “Is there a
kindergarten answer to this seemingly com-
plex problem?” Let your mind revert to child-
like thinking and write down the rst answers
that come to mind.
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
Champions Always Strive
For Greater Competence
A
mateur performers are often good at memorizing
and learning bits and pieces of information, just
as they were taught to do in school. Champions
know memorizing data in the information age is worth
about as much as it costs to purchase a computer and
log on to the Internet. Champions are focused on becom-
ing competent at what they do, and leave the informa-
tion gathering to someone else. While the masses worry
about job security and the return of poor economic con-
ditions, champions spend time building and improving
their attitude, skills and knowledge in their chosen eld. This laser-guided focus channels
energy directly to the building blocks of their competency. This approach puts professional
performers in constant demand from corporations and organizations searching for people
with world-class habits. So, while amateurs stay up at night worrying about job security,
the pros are quietly creating it through competence. The future belongs to the competent,
both in their eld and in terms of controlling and directing their emotions. But then again,
it always has.
“Information is the booby
prize. The real prize is
competence.”
– Larry Wilson,
founder, Wilson
Learning Corp.
Action Step for Today: List
the three most important activ-
ities in which you must con-
tinue to develop competence.
Make a commitment to invest a
set number of hours per week
(beyond your normal working
hours) to study. One hour of
extra study per day in your
chosen eld will make you a
national expert in ve years or
less.
World-Class Resource: The
ultimate common sense guide
to success is Think and Grow
Rich, by Napoleon Hill. This
classic was written in 1937 and
has since become the book by
which all personal development
books are measured. It’s a must-
read for anyone interested in
world-class results.
46
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
47
Champions Develop Bravery
In The Battle For Their Dream
W
orld-class performers know facing
their biggest doubts, fears and wor-
ries are the ultimate challenges for
champions, and therefore exercise a substan-
tial amount of bravery in their lives. They are
willing to endure sleepless nights and endless
worries as they walk the razor’s edge. They’re
profoundly aware that one small slip could
send everything they’ve built crashing down,
yet they continue to build. They are often crit-
icized and ridiculed by the masses, who see
them as a threat to their lack of engagement
in life. Champions accept the fact that the end
result to life is the same for everyone, and since
no one will survive in the end, there is no point
in playing it safe. So, what average people see
as unnecessary risk taking, champions view as
playing the game while there’s still time left
on the clock. They have the guts and bravery
to face the truth and take risks that make the
masses squirm.
“The world has a way of
giving what is demanded of it.
If you are frightened and look
for failure and poverty, you
will get them, no matter how
hard you may try to succeed.
Lack of faith in yourself, in
what life will do for you, cuts
you off from the good things of
the world. Expect victory and
you make victory. Nowhere
is this truer than in business
life, where bravery and faith
bring both material and spiri-
tual rewards.”
– Preston Bradley
World-Class Resource: Invest ten minutes in reading a few of
the stories and prayers written by parents who have a child ght-
ing cancer. These people are some of the bravest on the planet.
Visit www.kidscancernetwork.org/prayerlist.html
Action Step for Today: Make a list of ten things you’re afraid
to do, and decide to push past your fear and do one of them.
The sense of exhilaration you’ll feel will only be exceeded by
the condence you’ll gain.
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
O
ne hallmark of world-class performers is their level of conviction in who they are
and what they do. Champion’s beliefs and convictions are so strong that it’s conta-
gious. Professional performers who passionately believe in their convictions have
the power to inuence people and change the world. The great ones are easy to recognize –
you can see it in their eyes and hear it in their voices. The famous minister John Wesley
is a great example. Historians say; “Rev. Wesley’s conviction and passion was so strong,
that when he spoke it was as if his soul was on re, and people would travel from miles
around just to watch him burn.” My research
and experience shows that champions are not
more passionate about everything. Champions go
to extraordinary lengths to discover the work in
which their deepest passions lie, and then turn
their ame of desire into a blow torch of healthy
obsession. Average people usually don’t invest
the time necessary to discover where their pas-
sions lie. Instead, amateurs tend to implement dis-
tractions that are entertaining (at best), or a way to shield themselves from failure (at
worst). These distractions include television, spectator sports, hobbies, booze, and drugs.
It’s far easier to boo and cheer a million-dollar athlete than it is to become one. Generally
speaking, amateurs are spectators in the game of life. And it all begins with their lack of
desire to discover their convictions.
“What convinces is conviction.
You must believe in the argu-
ment you are advancing.”
– Lyndon Johnson,
1908-1973, U.S. President
Action Step for Today: On a scale of 1 to 7, 7 being
the most, how much conviction do you possess about the
importance of your work? If you answered less than 7, what
can you do to boost your level of conviction?
48
Champions Hold
Strong Convictions
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
49
The Great Ones Know
The Power Of Conversation
O
ne of the primary differences between the masses
and world-class performers is how much attention
they pay to developing their conversational skills.
Champions master the art of interpersonal communication.
They know their success is directly proportional to the
number of advocates they have in their professional net-
work of contacts. The great ones treat their databases like
sacred artifacts, because they know those lists of people are
priceless. They build their network one-by-one, and stay in
constant, but unobtrusive, contact with the fervor of a presi-
dential candidate rallying support. Champions know that, if
they lost everything they owned, they could pick up a phone,
contact their network, and be back in business in nothing
at. The great ones are in awe of the massive power of
their network. Networks usually begin and develop through a series of conversations.
World-class performers are charismatic conversationalists. They achieve this by focusing
their conversation on the other people, getting them to talk about their lives. Professional
performers are usually the people asking the questions and paying rapt attention to the
answers. Champions focus their part of the conversation on ideas, concepts, and things
of a positive nature. They refuse to discuss other people in a way that discredits them or
adversely affects their reputation.
“A conversation is a
dialogue, not a mono-
logue. That’s why
there are so few good
conversations: due to
scarcity, two intelli-
gent talkers seldom
meet.”
– Truman Capote,
1924-1984, novelist
Action Step for Today: Commit to becoming
a student of interpersonal communication. This
single skill will do more to help you move toward
world-class results than any other.
World-Class Resource: Read How to Win Friends and Inu-
ence People, by Dale Carnegie. This is arguably the greatest
book ever written on interpersonal communication skills.
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
Champions Are Decisive
W
hile average performers are timid and lack condence in their own judgment,
champions are known for their ability to make decisions, especially under pres-
sure. The difference is courage and condence. Even the best leaders are uncer-
tain about their decisions in an environment of unprecedented change. The difference is
their willingness to make a decision and take full responsibility for the outcome. Amateur
performers habitually play not to lose and procrastinate because they fear making a
mistake. The great ones know mistakes will be made
and can be corrected. Their willingness to assume full
responsibility for their decisions eliminates the need to
gather more input than is absolutely necessary. Devel-
oping a sound decision-making process, while under-
standing every decision is somewhat a gamble, is the
foundation of superior leadership. Professional perform-
ers can lead people and organizations effectively under
such high-pressure constraints because they possess the
self-trust necessary to make decisions without fear. Gen-
erally speaking, the higher the leadership position, the
greater and the deeper the leader’s self-trust must be.
Courage, self-trust and the willingness to assume full
responsibility for the outcomes of their decisions are
mandatory traits of competent and effective leaders.
“If I had to sum up in
one word what makes a
good manager, I’d say
decisiveness. You can use
the fanciest computers to
gather the numbers, but
in the end you have to set
a timetable and act.”
– Lee Iacocca,
former chairman,
Chrysler Corp.
Action Step for Today: Take a decision you have been put-
ting off for a while and decide on a course of action within the
next 24 hours. Decision-making skills are like muscles: they
can only be built through use.
World-Class Resource: Read Grow Up! by Dr.
Frank Pittman. This book takes a no-holds-barred
approach to taking personal responsibility.
50
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
51
The Great Ones Choose
Discipline Over Pleasure
W
hen average performers have had enough for the day and call it quits, champions
are usually just getting started. Discipline is the watchword of great perform-
ers. Discipline makes the difference between the good and the great. The great
ones will tell you discipline is more of a decision than it is an active skill. It’s the ability
to stay the course and complete promises you’ve made. The fulllment of these promises
builds condence and self-esteem, which eventually leads the champions to believe almost
anything is possible. It’s a habit and a self-fullling prophecy built into one. Discipline
is a logic-based decision that performers adhere
to, regardless of whether they feel like it or not.
Discipline pushes performers past pain and pun-
ishment. As my late business partner and mentor
Bill Gove always said, “It’s easier to act your-
self into good thinking than it is to think your-
self into good action.” This is the mindset of the
champion. The great ones, like Bill Gove, don’t
let feelings interfere with their performance.
Instead, they harness the power of their emo-
tional motivators to propel them past the compe-
tition. Average people see discipline as a painful
chore to be avoided at all costs. The world class
sees it as the ultimate power tool for perfor-
mance.
“With self-discipline anything is
possible. I believe discipline is the
ultimate key to success as it deter-
mines your approach toward
every day. Discipline keeps you
focused and keeps you perform-
ing at a world-class level.”
– Roger D. Graham Jr.
Sr. Vice President, Marketing
and Sales, Yamanouchi
Pharma-America
Action Step for Today: On a scale of 1 to 7, 7 being
most disciplined, how disciplined are you in the dif-
ferent areas of your life? Categories include business/
career; family/friends; money/nances; recreation/fun;
health/diet/exercise; faith/spiritual; social/cultural; and
personal development.
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
The World Class
Is Determined To Win
A
s simple as it sounds, many times the only
thing that separates winners from losers is
pure determination. While the winning dif-
ference may be slight, the thought process that makes
the difference is huge. Amateur performers spend
a substantial amount of time negotiating the price
of victory. Amateurs seem to have an endless tape
looping through their minds, asking, “Is the effort
worth the reward for winning?” Meanwhile, cham-
pions focus on winning. Their attitude is, “Whatever it takes.” Champions don’t negotiate
their efforts and sacrices enroute to victory. The decision to pay any price and bear any
burden in the name of victory was made long before the game started. This subtle dif-
ference in thinking is a huge advantage. Nowhere is this more apparent than when pain
occurs. Amateurs feel pain and seek escape. Professionals expect to feel pain and have
been mentally trained to push past it while maintaining a world-class level of performance.
Champions are the warriors of the world. Their outstanding preparation, both mental and
physical, makes them unstoppable and ferocious on any performance eld.
“Winning isn’t everything, but
wanting to win is.”
– Vince Lombardi,
1913-1970, legendary
coach, Green Bay Packers
Action Step for Today:
On a scale of 1 to 7, 7
being most determined,
how determined are you
to accomplish your goals
and dreams? An assess-
ment of the results you
have achieved so far
is an accurate measure
of how determined you
have been in the past.
World-Class Resource: Even though it
was ction, Rocky has to be the all-time
classic portrayal of world-class determi-
nation. The world is full of Rocky-like sto-
ries of people who refused to take no for
an answer when manifesting their vision.
If you haven’t seen Rocky, rent it; if you
have seen it, rent it again. As you’re
watching the movie, ask this critical think-
ing question: “Do I have this level of deter-
mination with my vision?” If you have
a big vision, Rocky-like determination is
probably what it’s going to take to make it
reality.
52
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
53
Champions Dedicate
Their Lives To Greatness
P
rofessional performers are the most dedicated people alive. While amateurs are dedi-
cated when things are going well, champions are always dedicated. In other words,
it’s not what they do, it’s who they are. The great ones don’t know any other way.
Their dedication to excellence shines through in everything they do. Dedication is a habit
they’ve developed; it serves as a cornerstone of their success and fulllment in life. Aver-
age people are more dedicated to pleasure than performance. The top 1% of world-class
performers invest thousands of dollars every year on self-development books, DVDs,
CDs, seminars, workshops and retreats. Most amateur performers haven’t read a book
since high school and wouldn’t attend a self-development seminar unless you paid them.
The masses tend to believe education ends with high
school or college graduation. The world class tends
to believe formal education only teaches you how
to learn, cope and manage yourself in the world as
an adult. They believe real education begins after
school lets out. Dedication to getting what they want
from life is a driving force behind champions. While
the masses seek perpetual pleasure, the great ones
focus on achievement. The irony is that professional
performers tend to experience great pleasure as a
result of their achievements. Such feelings of accom-
plishment and fulllment are an additional benet
only the great ones enjoy.
“To succeed in life, one must
have determination and must
be prepared to suffer during
the process. If one isn’t pre-
pared to suffer during adver-
sities, I don’t really see how
he can be successful.”
– Gary Player,
professional golfer
Action Step for Today: Ask this criti-
cal thinking question: “How much am
I willing to struggle and suffer to make
my vision a reality?” Is it a little, a fair
amount, a lot, or whatever it takes?
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
World-Class Resource: Pick a biography
of your favorite champion and read it cover
to cover. This will give you an idea of
the level of dedication it takes to become
one of the great ones. Next month, read
another biography. After a few of these
books, you’ll begin to see a pattern in each
champion’s thinking and dedication to their
dream. Develop the habit of reading biogra-
phies of world-class performers and you’ll
reap the benets of their wisdom and expe-
rience.
54
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
Champions Are Driven
By A World-Class Belief System
M
ake no mistake: champions are driven to
succeed. Many believe that only some
people are born with this innate aptitude
of ambition. Studies show this isn’t true. Champi-
ons are driven to win, in most cases, because they
believe they can. If you inherited a treasure map
from your best friend, would you be driven to follow
the map and nd the fortune? So would anyone else.
If this is true, why are the majority of people simply
trying to survive in a world of wealth and abun-
dance? The answer is simple: they don’t believe they
can nd their own treasure. This doesn’t alter the fact
that the treasure is there, yet it does change the drive
of the performer. The human animal is only driven
to the level their belief system will allow. Most of
us have been programmed by amateur performers with limited belief systems, and subse-
quently, small ambitions. As a result, they tend to attract other amateurs as friends, who
reinforce these limited beliefs and validate their lack consciousness. This cycle spins out of
control until the drive is nearly nonexistent. Amateurs rationalize their lack of drive with
tall tales of bad breaks and unfortunate circumstances. Meanwhile, the champions – no
more intelligent or talented – become more focused and driven every day and continue to
win.
“In the second grade, they
asked us what we wanted to
be. I said I wanted to be a ball
player, and they laughed. In
eighth grade, they asked the
same question, and I said a
ball player, and they laughed
a little more. By the eleventh
grade, no one was laughing.”
– Johnny Bench,
major league catcher
55
Action Step for Today: Generally
speaking, is your belief system pov-
erty class, middle class, or world
class? Ask this critical thinking ques-
tion: “Do my drive and ambition mirror
my beliefs?” If you’re not sure of
the answer, check your results in the
areas of your life where you exhibit
the most ambition.
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
The World Class
Has Great Expectations
O
ne of the greatest discoveries I’ve made in the last two decades as a mental tough-
ness coach is the realization that world-class performers are driven by positive
expectations. In other words, the great ones always expect to win regardless of
what they are up against. The next discovery I made was that this same positive expecta-
tion could be installed in anyone who wishes to possess
it. It’s a programming process that is easy to do; all it
takes is desire and persistence. Champions begin this pro-
gramming process by creating the language they use when
they talk to themselves, as well as the pictures they visual-
ize. World-class performers literally talk themselves into
believing anything that gives them a mental edge. Call it
positive brainwashing, programming, afrmation training,
auto-suggestion – whatever label you choose. Champions
call it their ace in the hole. While most amateur performers
rely on positive experience to build positive expectation,
professional performers are superstars in their minds long
before they are superstars in reality. Why wait for Mother
Nature to produce snow at a ski resort when it can be arti-
cially produced right now? Then, when it does snow, it
simply adds powder to a very solid base. Expectation works whether it’s built from real
experience or programming. The advantage of programming is it is guaranteed to happen
– while experience may or may not occur.
“As your consciousness
expands, your level of
expectation will grow.
Keep asking yourself,
am I selling myself
short? Most of us are.”
– John R. Spannuth,
President,
United States Water
Fitness Association
Action Step for Today: Outline your
expectations in every area of your
life, and then ask the ultimate critical
thinking question: “Should I expect
more?” If your answer is yes, raise
your expectations and upgrade how
you talk to yourself and others about
your heightened aspirations.
56
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
57
World-Class Resource: Build a personal and
professional board of advisors, comprised of
people who have a much higher level of expec-
tation than you. Spend as much time with them
as possible. One of the fastest ways to raise
your level of expectation is to associate with
world-class thinkers. To see my National Board
of Advisors, go to www.govesiebold.com There’s
an in-depth interview with each member of our
board, which will give you a better feel for who
these people are and how they think.
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
58
The Great Ones Are The Most
Enthusiastic People Alive
A
ll professional performers have discovered the real secret of greatness: enthusi-
asm for what they do. Champions are driven by an enthusiasm that res their soul
and keeps them on the practice eld long after everyone else has gone home. The
great ones know the raw, unbridled power of an enthusiastic mindset. Amateurs tend to
be more enthusiastic about the accomplishments of others, such as actors, sports stars
and musicians. While amateurs are spending their enthusiasm on batting averages and the
box ofce, professional performers are investing their
life energy into their eld of choice. Champions are
willing to put themselves on the line and risk failure
and rejection, while amateurs sit on the sidelines and
observe without risk. Champions often have the world
view that life is a game to play to the best of their
ability, with enthusiasm and tenacity, until their hearts
stop beating. Amateurs often think life is something to
struggle through while avoiding pain at all costs. My
friend and mentor, Larry Wilson, has a great vision of their arrival at the pearly gates: The
amateur arrives, and Saint Peter says, “Congratulations. You’ve arrived safely at death.”
Champions know having something to be enthusiastic about is one the most important
ingredients of a happy life. The great ones are either engaged in or actively seeking their
passion everyday.
“All we really need to make
us happy is something to be
enthusiastic about.”
– Charles Kingsley,
1819-1875, novelist
Action Step for Today:
Make a list of the ve activ-
ities in your life for which
you have the most enthusi-
asm. Next, ask this critical
thinking question: “Does
anyone make a living doing
this?”
World-Class Resource:
Read Do What You Love
and the Money Will
Follow, by Marsha Sine-
tar. If you are in the pro-
cess of trying to gure
out what you really want
to do with your career,
this book may have the
answer.
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
59
Champions Love What They Do
I
t doesn’t seem to matter what industry, profession, occupation or sport champions
choose – the criteria for selection is almost always enjoyment. Champions tend to
choose their eld based on pure enjoyment of the activity. Some people say that cham-
pions don’t pick their eld, the eld picks them. Amateurs believe champions enjoy their
work because they are successful. Yet interviews with the superstars nd the polar opposite
to be true. Champions are successful because they enjoy their work. As a result, they put
their heart and soul into the activity, so much so that they surpass their competitors. College
students of yesterday were often told to study business
or computers, or law or medicine, because of the great
nancial potential. This single idea has probably created
more average performers than any other. The progres-
sive mindset of the 21st century is to study what you
enjoy studying and put your heart and soul into it. The
great ones know that money doesn’t come from an occu-
pation; it comes from solving people’s problems. Cham-
pions do so much extra study and work that they become
experts, and often become wealthy as a result. Profes-
sional performers not only see enjoying what they do as
a philosophy, they see it as their single greatest asset and
entry into the world class.
“I’d rather be a failure
at something I love than
a success at something I
don’t.”
– George Burns,
1896-1996, comedian
Action Step for Today:
On a scale of 1 to 7,
7 being the most enjoy-
ment, how much do you
enjoy your job? If you
answered less than a 7,
the odds of fullling your
full potential are slim. If
you answered a 7, then
you will almost assuredly
ascend to the world-class
level.
World-Class Resource:
Read Work Happy Live
Healthy, by Tom Welch.
Visit www.workhappy.com
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
Champions Create
A Winning Environment
H
ave you ever noticed children of super-rich fam-
ilies often attract misery into their lives in a vari-
ety of ways? These children are raised in an
environment of extreme privilege. As a result, they often
develop a sense of entitlement that creates conicting
feelings as their lives progress. Even at age forty, some
of these ‘kids’ are completely confused about how they
t into the world, because they never had an opportu-
nity to learn and grow through adversity and challenge.
Their parents purchased their problems away, and left
them with a gaping psychological hole. Similarly, amateur performers tend to be their own
worst enemies, and create misery and depression from a deep sense of disappointment
with themselves. Professional performers learn to create their own environment of ongoing
learning, growth and discipline. They often discover their greatest joy in the conquering of
their greatest obstacles. While amateurs do everything possible to exist in an environment
of comfort, champions know the only true comfort comes from becoming the people they
were meant to be by learning and growing each day. Amateurs think they are victims of
their environment, and seem to thrive on blaming other people. Professional performers
realize the people who programmed them did the best they could, based on their level
of awareness, and then take the necessary steps to reprogram themselves and create the
world-class environment they deserve.
“The rst step toward
success is taken when you
refuse to be a captive of
the environment in which
you rst nd yourself.”
– Mark Caine, author
60
Action Step for Today: Make a commitment to
upgrade your environment, beginning with the people
around you. Limit your exposure to neutral and nega-
tive people, remembering that consciousness is con-
tagious. Befriend a champion and spend as much
time with this person as possible. I promise this will
raise your level of expectation.
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
World-Class Resource: Become an
active student of personal development
by listening to tapes and CDs from your
favorite authors, speakers and philoso-
phers as you drive. Create a world-class
environment by turning your car into a
university on wheels. The largest pro-
ducer of personal development tapes
and CDs is Nightingale-Conant Corp.;
their website is www.nightingale.com
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177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
The World Class
Makes Exercise A Priority
A
mateurs tend to believe exercise is only for
the young, and that it has little to do with
success in the business world. Studies show
this to be false. In the last ten years, many compa-
nies have started corporate exercise programs and
constructed workout facilities on company prem-
ises. They know regular exercise is the single
most signicant aspect of good health, and good
employee health goes right to the bottom line.
Champions have known this for years. They tend to invest at least an hour per day, every
day, in some form of physical activity. They usually select an activity they really enjoy
to insure it will become a habit. Amateurs spend more time watching their favorite sports
heroes exercise than they do exercising themselves. The cost of this inactive lifestyle is
substantial, both physically and mentally. Professional performers know a sound mind and
sound body are one and the same, and they treat their physical activity with the same inten-
sity and priority as they do their work. They schedule daily exercise and approach it with
the same vigor as a meeting with a key customer. The biggest distinction between amateurs
and pros in this area is the importance they place on adhering to their exercise routine.
Amateurs see exercise as a chore; pros see it as a necessity for world-class performance.
62
Action Step for Today: Make a commitment to exercise for
at least one hour per day, ve days a week. The excuse that
you don’t have time is a delusion. Exercise is necessary for a
long and healthy life. Get your calendar out and move things
around to make room for exercise, no matter what it takes.
Your life literally depends on it.
World-Class Resource: If you’re a man, sub-
scribe to Men’s Health magazine. If you’re a
woman, subscribe to Shape Magazine. Visit
www.menshealth.com or www.shape.com
“Exercise is king. Nutrition is
queen. Put the two of them
together and you have a king-
dom.”
– Jack Lalane,
tness guru
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
The Great Ones
Are Professional Failures
T
he majority of the differences between ama-
teurs and pros is a subtle separation. It’s a
slight difference in thinking that makes a
big difference in results. The idea of failure is an
example of this. Amateurs tend to believe failure
is painful and should be avoided in order to main-
tain a sense of pride and dignity. In an effort to pro-
tect their egos, they attempt only those things they
know they can do. Champions see failure as a nec-
essary building block of mega-success, and treat it
as a teacher. People labeled as failures are amateurs
at failing. Successful people are professional fail-
ures, who have failed their way to success. The difference is their mental approach. Cham-
pions aren’t in the business of protecting their egos; they’re in the business of learning,
growing and becoming. They see failures as necessary course adjustments – not always
pleasant, yet necessary to gain the wisdom and mental toughness it’s going to take to make
their vision a reality. While amateurs spend a lot of time focusing on how not to fail, pros
are dialed in to doing what it takes to succeed. This problem-solving, execution-based
focus creates a greater awareness of more potential solutions. A focus on failure prevention
creates an awareness of fear, lack and poverty. It’s all a matter of where a performer places
his attention.
“There can be no failure to
a man who has not lost his
courage, his character, his self-
respect, or his self-condence.
He is still a king.”
– Orison Swett Marden,
1848-1924,
founder, Success Magazine
Action Step for Today: Ask this critical thinking question: “Have I
been playing it safe to avoid failure?” On a scale of 1 to 7, 7 being
the highest, how many risks have you taken in an effort to make your
vision a reality?
World-Class Resource: If you’re in the world of selling, read How I
Raised Myself from Failure to Success in Selling, by Frank Bettger. This
book is a detailed account of how one man gured out how the system
works. The great Dale Carnegie called this book, “The most helpful and
inspiring book on salesmanship I have ever read.” It’s a must for your
sales library.
63
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
64
Champions Have
Tremendous Faith
F
aith has always been a hallmark of world-class performers – most notably, the faith
performers have in themselves. The great ones have an extremely high level of self-
trust, even when they are failing. This faith in self may stem from being raised in
a positive environment, or from performers talking themselves into it. Muhammad Ali
admits he told the world he was the greatest before he truly was as a way to bolster his
faith in his own skills. (I think it worked!) Champions also have faith in their goals and
dreams becoming reality, while amateurs are often
deathly afraid of believing in something that may
or may not happen. Faith in God, a higher power,
or an innite intelligence is also a trait of many
champions. There are atheists who are tremendous
performers, yet as a rule, there seems to be a con-
nection between professional performers and the
spiritual side of life. Many pros draw tremendous
energy and power from a deep faith in a greater
force. In recent years, many who were turned off
by fear-based organized religions in their childhood
have turned to new-thought churches and centers,
such as Unity and Science of Mind. Whatever the source of their spiritual faith, world-class
performers do tend to hold strong spiritual convictions.
“We do not need more intellec-
tual power; we need more spir-
itual power . . . . We do not
need more of the things that
are seen, we need more of the
things that are unseen.”
– Calvin Coolidge,
1872-1933, U.S. President
Action Step for Today: Take inventory
of the ten people closest to you. On a
scale of 1 to 7, 7 being the highest, how
much faith do these people have in them-
selves? How much faith do they have in a
higher power? Odds are that your level of
faith is the average of these ten people.
Ask this critical thinking question: “Is this
helping me or hurting me?”
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
Champions Handle Fear
Like A Snake Charmer
T
he relationship performers have with fear
is a signicant distinction between ama-
teurs and professionals. Amateurs are
controlled by their fears, while professionals
learn to embrace fear, like a snake handler hold-
ing a venomous king cobra by the neck. Cham-
pions know if they get sloppy or stop paying
attention, the cobra will take their life. The great
ones use the energy and intensity of fear to
drive them to greater heights. They learn how
to become comfortable while performing in an
uncomfortable state of mind. Repeated exposure to their fears systematically desensitizes
them, eventually depleting the fear. An interesting phenomenon often occurs after this
desensitization process – performers fall in love with the activity they used to fear. Sud-
denly, they can’t get enough of the activity, because it makes them feel so good. Since
the beginning of public opinion polls, the number one fear among people worldwide has
always been public speaking. The fear of public humiliation is too much for the ego to bear;
so most people develop a tremendous fear of speaking to groups. Realizing the incredible
force public speaking can be in their careers, many champions have faced this fear head-on
and later fell in love with the emotional high public speaking offers. Champions have
learned emotional strength and power lies on the other side of fear. On the other end of the
spectrum, amateurs usually settle for the short-term gain of avoiding what they fear.
“ ‘Come to the edge,’ He said.
They said, ‘We are afraid.’
‘Come to the edge,’ He said.
They came. He pushed them . . .
and they ew.”
– Guillaume Apollinaire,
1880-1918, poet
Action Step for Today: Take inventory of your fears: are they adult
fears, or adolescent fears? An adult fear is being afraid of a truck
about to run over you. It’s the kind of fear that can save your life.
Adolescent fear is being afraid of the bogeyman under the bed, or of
being rejected by a prospect or embarrassed in front of a group. The
threat is literally made up in our minds. When we allow adolescent
fear to hold us back, we are behaving like children.
65
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
66
World-Class Resource: Read Conquer Fear,
by Lisa Jimenez. You can also sign up for Lisa’s
free e-zine at www.rx-success.com
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
67
The Great Ones Evolve From
Fear To Love Based Motivation
M
iddle-class performers are mediocre
because they have failed to identify the
emotional motivators that burn from
within. Upper-class performers are full of emo-
tional re that is usually fueled by the fear of fail-
ure. While fear can be a tremendous motivator, it
creates a lot of pain and suffering in the process.
Operating out of a fear and scarcity based consciousness is a playing not to lose strategy,
and through the law of attraction acts as a magnet for additional thoughts of fear and scar-
city to enter the performers mind. These thoughts eventually manifest more fear and scar-
city on the physical plane. The upper class includes some of the most successful people in
the world, who are also some of the saddest. The fear that propels them to achieve is the
same emotion that robs them of their fulllment. The upper class consciousness is rooted
in ego, where the pain of losing is stronger than the pleasure of winning. Because of the
fear this thought process attracts, the upper class tends to suffer much more than the world
class. As soon as they succeed at whatever they are attempting, they are on to the next
conquest, and the victories must get bigger for them to sustain their ego-based gratication.
The world class transcends this lower vibration by focusing their thoughts, language, and
mental pictures on love and abundance. The great ones are playing to win, and winning
to them simply means learning and growing. They literally transcend the addiction to feel-
ing superior to anyone else, and for being afraid to lose what they have. Their dominant
thoughts are on their vision for the future, and they pursue it fearlessly.
“Everyone has two choices.
We’re either full of love. . .or
full of fear.”
– Albert Einstein
Action Step for Today: Ask these critical
thinking questions: Am I more motivated
by my fear of failure or by the excitement
of my vision? Am I out to prove myself or
express myself?
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
68
Champions Understand
The Limits Of Money
I
n pursuit of happiness, amateurs tend to seek riches, while pros seek fulllment. The
irony is that champions create so much value in their quest for fulllment that they
often develop substantial riches. Amateurs are usually looking for the quick buck. They
believe being rich will ll the hole they feel inside, although few of them can say how
much money that would require. In truth, no amount is sufcient, because the hole can
only be lled by feelings of fulllment. The great ones nd fulllment in their everyday
work and activities. They never really chase fulllment, yet they experience it simply by
doing their work. Amateurs believe money and the
things money will buy are the keys to peace and ful-
llment. Professional performers gravitate toward
things that create a sense of satisfaction in and of
themselves. Fulllment is a mental state champi-
ons experience as a result of their elevated aware-
ness. In essence, champions invest the necessary
time and resources to discover what they love to do
and then focus on doing it to the best of their ability.
Their fulllment doesn’t come from the results of
their actions, but from the actions themselves. The
great ones are focused on the cause, rather than the effect. As a result, the effects (or results)
take care of themselves. On the other end of the spectrum, the masses are focused on the
effects, and often ignore the causes. Even if they succeed in acquiring money and posses-
sions, fulllment continues to elude them, until they nally throw up their arms and say; “Is
this all there is?” The answer is yes, because money and material possessions are effects,
and effects don’t create causes. Causes create effects. This is why the pros seek fulllment
rst though loving what they do for a living. This is a can’t-miss strategy. Their work cre-
ates a tremendous sense of fulllment – even if the effects aren’t reached. Champions don’t
play for the money; they play because they love the game itself. The money – the effect –
is just icing on the cake.
“When you’re doing something
you love to do, the only reward
you need is the experience of
doing it.”
– Bill Gove,
1912-2001, the father of
professional speaking
Action Step for Today: Do a cause-and-effect analysis. Ask this criti-
cal thinking question: “Am I focused on the cause of my fulllment, or
the effect of my fulllment?” For example, do you exercise for the health
benets you gain, or because you love the sport or exercise activity?
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
Champions Are Future-Oriented
W
hile amateurs often live in the past, champions look toward the future. Pros
habitually focus on the present while creating their ultimate vision for, and
landscape of, the future. This future orientation allows them to dream of grand
visions and unlimited possibilities. It also keeps them motivated and moving forward by
keeping the proverbial carrot out in front. Amateurs like to talk about the good old days,
and how they wish things were like they were before. Professional performers are just
the opposite. The pros revere and respect the past, but place responsibility for the future
squarely on their own shoulders. Taking personal responsibility for failures, successes
and actions in general is a trait of world-class per-
formers. The saying, “If it is to be, it is up to
me,” reects their beliefs. Average people would
rather see themselves as victims of circumstances
beyond their control. The great ones make their
own circumstances and respond with a higher level
of awareness to negative events in their lives. Their
execution-based focus and future orientation keeps
them on track. It all begins with taking full respon-
sibility for their lives and their futures.
“All great leaders have vision
and idealization in which they
can continually imagine the
perfect outcome to all situa-
tions.”
– Brian Tracy,
author and speaker
Action Step for Today: Program
yourself by repeating this state-
ment until you believe it: “The
past is only important as it relates
to the present and the future, and
any mistakes in my past have
been for the purpose of helping
me create a bountiful future.” This
afrmation harnesses the power
of the past and directs it to the
only place it can serve you: in the
future.
World-Class Resource:
Listen to Create the
Future: How to Think
Big, Act Bold, and Be a
Visionary, by Bill Gove,
Larry Wilson, Bob Proc-
tor and Steve Siebold.
You can nd it at
www.govesiebold.com
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177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
70
The Great Ones
Challenge The Facts
M
ost progress relies on professional performers who stand up, challenge the status
quo and push the envelope. The great ones denitely dance to the beat of a dif-
ferent drummer, and I thank God they do. Many great breakthroughs and inno-
vations are made by champions who ignore the facts and gures. While amateurs are
content with the status quo, pros are always seeking a better, faster, more efcient, effec-
tive method or way of doing things. The great ones derive incredible pleasure from
ongoing growth and development, while amateurs quietly fear change will create more
demanding or less pleasurable conditions. To amateur performers, champions can appear
to be outrageous in their wants and desires. Ama-
teurs are accustomed to the way things are, and
prefer to keep it that way. Without champions, inno-
vation and progress would be almost nonexistent.
At the beginning of the 20th century, many scien-
tists believed every major innovation and invention
had been discovered. This type of thinking is dif-
cult to sell to pros, who tend to listen only to other
pros. While champions take facts into consideration, they just don’t allow them to carry as
much weight as amateurs do. The great ones know progress relies on the unreasonable men
or women who stand up and challenge the facts, and then take intelligent action to exceed
them.
“When the dream is big enough,
the facts don’t count.”
– Ray Youngblood,
entrepreneur and speaker
Action Step for Today: Begin to question the
so-called ‘facts’ governing your life. Ask these
critical thinking questions: “Is it a fact that it’s
going to take me 20 years to retire? Is it a
fact that I will gain weight as I get older or
after having children? Is it a fact that the only
religious beliefs I should follow are the ones
handed down from my parents?”
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
Champions Are Driven By Fun
O
ne of the most closely-held secrets of world-class performers is how much fun
they have in what they do. Outsiders see big-time performers as super self-dis-
ciplined, self-sacricing, success-and-achievement machines. Yet a closer look
gives a more accurate portrayal of what really drives these people: fun. Champions have
more fun in their work than any other group. They take whatever time is necessary to
choose a career path that encompasses their natural
talents, abilities, and, most of all, their passions.
Amateurs have a difcult time competing with pros
because most amateurs hate their jobs – one of the
primary reasons they’re amateurs in the rst place!
Professional performers are highly disciplined, of
course, yet their core drive and mental fortitude
seem to come from the pure fun, excitement, enjoy-
ment and exhilaration of their work. Average people
go to work and plod through the day; champions go
to work and have fun. This is one of the reasons amateurs cannot compete with pros – it’s
a mismatch from the start. One is focused on surviving, while the other is just playing a
game and having fun.
Action Step for Today: How much fun
are you having in your life? On a scale of
1 to 7, 7 being the most fun, give yourself
a rating in each area of your life. Next,
ask this critical thinking question: “Can
I eliminate doing things that aren’t fun?”
Really think about your answer. Life is
short and unpredictable. Why do things
you don’t enjoy unless it is impossible to
escape them?
“When you have condence,
you can have a lot of fun, and
when you have fun, you can do
amazing things.”
– Joe Namath,
professional football player
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177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
72
The Great Ones Learn To Forgive
P
rofessional performers’ heightened aware-
ness allows them to forgive freely. While
average people plot revenge, champions
release their enemies and move on. The amateur
approach stems from ego; the professional
approach from spirit. The habit of forgiveness is a
signicant distinction between the masses and the
champions. Professional performers understand
that mental toughness and power ultimately come
from a mindset of love – love for what they do, who they are and for the people with whom
they interact. This is not to be confused with the Age of Aquarius and the free love move-
ment of the 1960s, although they were probably on the right track in the beginning. All
human actions and reactions have their root in one of two forms of consciousness: fear or
love. If people were primarily logical creatures, this concept wouldn’t make sense. Human
beings, however, are primarily emotional creatures who often operate in irrational ways.
Champions know this, which is the reason they’re able to forgive. Emotional creatures who
operate at a lower level of conscious awareness tend to say ignorant things and behave in
thoughtless ways. Expecting human beings to behave logically all the time is like expect-
ing machines to feel emotion. The great ones operate from a love-based consciousness that
recognizes the emotion-based irrational behavior of people. Champions are much more
forgiving than average people because of this knowledge.
“The weak can never forgive.
Forgiveness is the attitude of the
strong.”
– Mahatma Ghandi,
1869-1948, Indian leader
Action Step for Today: Make a
list of all of the people you feel
have slighted you to some degree,
and give yourself the gift of a life-
time by forgiving them. You don’t
have to tell them you forgive them;
simply forgive them in your heart
by coming to terms with the fact
that we are fallible human beings
doing the best we can.
World-Class Resource: To
learn more about the power
of forgiveness, get a copy of
Forgiveness: How to Make
Peace with Your Past and
Get on with Your Life, by Dr.
Sidney Simon.
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
Champions Know Why
They Are Fighting
A
verage performers never fully tap into their
own psyches, and as a result, they are
unmotivated to dream big dreams. World-
class performers know what they are willing to
ght – and even die – for. This is a critical trait
of the great ones. They draw their motivation and
willpower intrinsically, whereas the middle class
waits for the motivational mood to strike. Profes-
sional performers invest a tremendous amount of
time thinking about what makes them tick in an
effort to uncover their deepest, most powerful emotional motivators. When the going gets
tough and the pain kicks in, average people back off from a goal or task. This is when the
world class really begins to ght. When they begin to feel physical or psychological pain,
they go inside themselves and draw on their vast reserves of emotional power. When pain
strikes, the subconscious mind asks the conscious mind, “why must I suffer?” The great
ones know the answer is their vision. When their subconscious determines the vision is
worth ghting and suffering for, their level of motivation soars. This is one of the major
reasons there is such a chasm between amateurs and pros. The difference may be small at
the start, but as the pain and suffering escalate, the performance gap becomes larger and
larger, to the point of a total mismatch. You don’t pit amateurs against pros. It’s like feeding
a man to the lions.
“One of the hallmarks of the
great ones is their level of aware-
ness as to what they are willing
to ght for. They’re willing to
suffer and sacrice to make
their visions reality.”
– Steve Siebold
Action Step for Today:
Make a list of the ten rea-
sons you will do whatever
it takes to breathe life into
your vision. Review this list
every day, especially when
the going gets tough.
World-Class Resource: Get
a copy of It’s Not About the
Bike, by Lance Armstrong.
This book will take you inside
the mind of the greatest
cyclist in history. After you
read it, you’ll know exactly
what makes this champion
so special.
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177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
T
he world class controls over 90% of the wealth
in America for a simple reason: they are com-
peting in a marketplace full of amateurs. The
only group that has a ghting chance against the great
ones is the upper class, which represents approxi-
mately 10% of the population. At Mental Toughness
University, we classify most members of the upper
class as ‘Very Good Performers’. In order to ascend
to the world class, performers must be classied as
‘Great’. At the highest levels of performance, very
good is considered to be bad. There are lots of per-
formers who are very good, but great performers are
rare. At the height of my tennis career, I was a very
good player, but compared to the world class, I was
bad. Very good performers are no match for the great
ones. The difference between a very good leader and a
great leader is the respect and loyalty of his/her team.
The difference between a very good doctor and a great
doctor can be life and death. The difference between a
very good salesperson and a great salesperson is nan-
cial freedom. For the average person, to be classied
as very good is something to be proud of. For the great
ones, it’s an insult. Both groups have the same poten-
tial. The only difference is in their thinking.
74
Champions Know
Very Good Is Bad
“The mental toughness pro-
cess is not about going from
good to very good--it’s about
going from good to great.
Anyone who settles for very
good is destined to spend
their golden years bathed in
a sea of regret, wondering
why.”
– Steve Siebold
Action Step for Today:
Ask this critical thinking
question: Are you a good
performer, a very good per-
former, or a great per-
former? For the correct
answer, check the results
you’ve been getting in each
area of your life up until
this point. Your self-assess-
ment represents the truth.
Your results represent the
fact.
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
The World Class
Embraces Free Enterprise
T
he free enterprise system in America has cre-
ated more great champions than anything else
in the history of civilization. Since the world
class operates from a fearless state of abundance, they
tend to embrace the free enterprise system. Many great
ones cut their entrepreneurial teeth in the corporate
world and then launch a business. Some choose to
become professional performers within the corporate
structure. These champions make the shrewd decision
to use the collective knowledge, power and systems
of their billion-dollar employers. They don’t relish the
recognition and gratication of being in business for themselves; they prefer to ourish and
grow within the corporate system. While most rank-and-le employees are more interested
in where they’re going on vacation than in moving forward in their career, the great ones
often think of the company as their own. The free enterprise system lives within them.
Every move they make serves the company for which they work. These performers are a
rare breed, especially in times when the masses believe their companies have no loyalty
to them. This sense of distrust gives middle-class performers an excuse to coast. The great
ones are aware that their performance and work ethic are about them, not the company.
World-class performers are always reinforcing the habit of excellence – one of the reasons
they will always be in demand in any economy.
“That some should be rich
shows that others may
become rich, and hence is
just encouragement to indus-
try and enterprise.”
– Abraham Lincoln,
1809-1865, U.S. President
75
Action Step for Today: Commit to
seeing yourself as self-employed, regard-
less of who signs your paycheck. Employ-
ment status is unimportant in the Age
of the Mind. All of us are the presidents
of our own professional services corpo-
rations, and lease our time and efforts
to employers or customers. This mind-
set should motivate you to perform to the
best of your ability every single day.
World-Class Resource:
Read How to Get Rich,
by Donald Trump.
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
Champions Believe
In Global Citizenship
T
he world class believes in the philosophy of one collective global economy. This is
evident by their participation in such groups as Rotary International and others that
focus on assisting people globally. True champions know what happens in Bombay
affects what happens in Chicago, and what happens in Sydney affects what happens
in Tokyo. Average people hardly know their own
neighbors. The middle class seldom looks beyond
their own hometowns and tends to have an isola-
tionist philosophy. They are not any less caring
than their world-class counterparts; they are simply
unaware of the impact countries and people have
on each other. With their expanded global world-
view, professional performers create ideas that
usually have no geographical boundaries. The
World Wide Web has expanded this awareness
even more, yet the middle class fails to embrace this philosophy as a whole. Until more
people raise their level of awareness, the great ones will have to foot the bill for everyone.
The end of mediocrity as we know it doesn’t seem to be anywhere in sight.
“Without a global revolution in
the sphere of human conscious-
ness, a more humane society
will not emerge.”
– Vaclav Havel,
Czech Republic president
Action Step for Today: Ask these critical think-
ing questions: “Am I a global citizen? Am I actively
contributing to people and places outside where I
work and live?” Set a goal to elevate your partici-
pation in global problem solving by helping some-
one in need in another country in some way.
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177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
77
The Great Ones Don’t
Give Back . . . They Just Give
W
orld-class performers usually have a strong philosophy when it comes to giving.
Middle-class consciousness is rooted deeply in fear, but world-class conscious-
ness is rooted in love and abundance. Professional performers tend to have a
world view that there is, and always will be, more than enough of everything to go around.
As a result, they tend to give freely. People operating at poverty-, working-, and middle-
class levels of awareness will give from time to time, yet there is a difference. They tend to
give in order to get. In other words, people at lower levels of awareness often see giving as
a trade. It’s an “I give you this, so you have to give me
that,” mentality. The great ones give without res-
ervation or anticipation of a trade. They give because
they believe it’s the right thing to do, and as a result,
they experience much deeper levels of fulllment than
average people. World-class performers are not more
generous; they simply believe they’ll never run out of
resources and that the world operates from total abun-
dance. Giving is easy when you believe the source of
supply is unlimited. The world-class mindset is pure love, with no beginning, no end and
no limits. The amateur-class philosophy demands that all giving be measured, for fear the
fountain will run dry. As a result of this subtle distinction, the world class gives more, gets
more, and attracts more.
“Don’t give back . . . just
give.”
– Nido Qubein,
author, speaker,
philanthropist
Action Step for Today: Give money to someone who needs
a few bucks, without any expectation of receiving anything in
return. Maybe it’s the guy begging for money on the street, or
possibly a friend in need of some fast cash. This habit mani-
fests a prosperity consciousness that will attract more abun-
dance into your life.
World-Class Resource: Check out my mentor
in the area of philanthropy, Nido Qubein, at
www.nidoqubein.com. He’s quite a guy.
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
The World Class
Is Obsessed With Their Goals
A
verage performers set their goals on New
Year’s Eve and don’t look at them again until
the next New Year’s Eve. The world class is
in a constant goal-setting mode. Champions are goal-
setting machines – they know the cornerstone of all
achievement is mental clarity. Professional perform-
ers are evolving so rapidly they usually nd it neces-
sary to review – and sometimes reset their goals on a
daily basis. One of the secrets of their success is this
daily exposure to their goals. Only 3% of Americans
have clearly dened written goals, and less than 1%
can identify their primary goal and objective in life.
This attention to detail gives the great ones an incredible advantage over their middle-
class counterparts. As average performers begin to forget what their goals are because of a
lack of exposure to them, the pros are imbedding their goals deep into their subconscious
minds daily. Their minds are like guided missiles, always adjusting and correcting to main-
tain accuracy toward the target. Champions have a singleness of purpose most people will
never take the time to discover, and this thought process allows them to climb higher every
day.
“There is one quality which
one must possess to win, and
that is deniteness of pur-
pose, the knowledge of what
one wants, and a burning
desire to possess it.”
– Napoleon Hill,
1883-1970, author
Action Step for Today: List
your ten major goals for this
year every morning when
you wake up. This habit will
ingrain your major goals into
your psyche. This is one of
the most important habits you
can develop enroute to a
world-class mindset.
World-Class Resource: Read
Goals! How to Get Everything
You Want – Faster Than You
Ever Thought Possible, by Brian
Tracy. This book takes a
no-nonsense, no-holds-barred
approach to setting world-class
goals.
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177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
79
The Great Ones Believe They
Cannot Fail . . . They Can Only
Learn And Grow
C
hampions are committed to never-ending personal and professional growth. Aver-
age performers believe learning and growing begins and ends in school. The
world-class ranks realize graduation is the beginning of the road, not the end.
Professional performers attempt so many things over the course of their lifetimes that
their mental growth rate is staggering compared to the
masses. While amateurs avoid risk at any cost, the
great ones are always looking for opportunities. They
are willing to fail their way to success. The belief of
the champion, according to author Larry Wilson, is “I
cannot fail . . . I can only learn and grow.” This belief
makes pros very dangerous performers. While average
people attempt to win while simultaneously trying to
avoid pain, champions give it the full-court press with
little or no concern about failing. Champions have programmed themselves to disengage
their fear and move full speed ahead. The middle and lower class are amateurs at failing;
they are so afraid of it they only attempt goals they know they can reach. The feelings of
bliss that champions experience don’t stem from their successes, but from the fulllment
of the growth that occurred along the way.
“Growth itself contains the
germ of happiness.”
– Pearl S. Buck,
1892-1973, author
Action Step for Today: Begin tell-
ing yourself you cannot fail; you can
only learn and grow. Keep repeat-
ing these words to yourself at every
opportunity for the next 30 days, and
see what happens. You will create
a new world-class belief that may
transform your life.
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
Champions Are
World-Class Communicators
C
hampions know that one of the most critical
factors for success is their skill in dealing with
people. Average performers know this as well,
yet while the masses attempt to communicate and
inuence people through logic, the great ones know
human beings are emotional creatures masquerading
as logical creatures. Based on this information, cham-
pions tweak their approach. The crown jewel of cham-
pion-level success with other people is knowing a
critical factor in human relations – helping people ful-
ll their insatiable desire to feel important. From doctors to bus drivers, emotional crea-
tures crave validation and acceptance . . . and professional performers know it. As a result,
their conversations are peppered with language that makes others feel important. In busi-
ness, average workers converse for personal satisfaction. The great ones converse to inu-
ence and persuade others to see their unique point of view.
“When dealing with people,
remember that you are not
dealing with creatures of
logic, but with creatures of
emotion.”
– Dale Carnegie,
1888-1955, author
Action Step for Today: Go out
of your way to make everyone
you speak to feel important.
A good start is remembering
names in conversation. Make
this a daily habit and watch
how people begin to respond
to you.
World-Class Resource: Take your corporate team
through The Bill Gove Presentation Workshop. Visit
www.billgoveworkshop.com
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177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
81
Champions Are
Products Of Their Habits
A
verage performers think of habits as something
to break, like smoking or eating too much. Pro-
fessional performers know successful habits
are the keys to the kingdom. Each and every day, the
great ones reinforce their success habits, such as exer-
cise, proper diet, showing up early/staying late, and
studying their eld. Champions have a sacred respect
for the power that habits exhibit in their life. The pros
know if they allow their championship habits to slip for
even one day, the habit will begin to atrophy. The great
ones know it’s more difcult to develop a championship habit than to lose it. They under-
stand the magnicent force of momentum can work for or against them. As a result, they
tend to protect their success habits with an almost religious fervor. Champions are keenly
aware of how their habits impact every area of their lives, because they always look inside
themselves and listen for answers. Average people are oblivious to success-habit forma-
tion, unless the pain from an unhealthy habit becomes too great. Habits are the raw materi-
als from which the great ones are made.
“We rst make our habits,
and then our habits make
us.”
– John Dryden,
1631-1700,
author, playwright
Action Step for Today: Make a list of ve habits
that could lift you to higher levels of success and
fulllment. Now, select the single habit that would
have the most impact and make a commitment to
make it a part of your life. Remember, it takes an
average of three to four weeks to form a new habit,
whether it is positive or negative.
World-Class Resource: Read
The Seven Habits of Highly Effec-
tive People, by Stephen Covey.
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
The Great Ones Understand
The Power Of Humility
W
hile average people never consider the mag-
nitude humility plays in the ability to solicit
help from others, the pros have reverence
for it. Professional performers know humility is one of
the most effective approaches ever created to inuence
people. The case for humility, even for the best per-
formers, is easily made. Even members of the world
class stumble and fall many more times than they suc-
ceed. Humility is the natural order of the human con-
dition, yet average people walk around clouded by
ego and false pride. This is undoubtedly costing them
dearly in relations with others. A braggart is essen-
tially saying, “I’m better than you.” That’s not a good
approach to a species who craves the feeling of impor-
tance. Champions recognize the damage done through boasting, and adopt an attitude of
gracious humility. The champion’s self-condence is no less than a braggart’s. As a matter
of fact, all of the pros I’ve ever known have what I call inner arrogance. The difference:
they don’t display this arrogance outside their own thought process. This supreme con-
dence is necessary to compete at the world-class level, but pros know how to conceal this
well-earned, positive sense of self.
“If anything goes bad, I did
it. If anything goes semi-
good, we did it. If anything
goes really good, then you
did it. That’s all it takes to
get people to win football
games for you.”
– Paul ‘Bear’ Bryant,
1913-1983,
legendary football coach
Action Step for Today: Ask this critical thinking question: “On a
scale of 1 to 7, 7 being most humble, how humble do you appear
to other people?” If you scored less than 7, make a commitment to
raise your score by at least one point right now by becoming more
aware of how you appear to others. Start by moving from an ego-
based consciousness to a spirit-based consciousness. Begin this
process by making a list of ten things for which you are most grate-
ful. Next, express gratitude to people in your life who have helped
you succeed. Notice how this humble, spirit-based consciousness
begins to attract and positively impact the people around you . . .
not to mention the impact it will have on you.
82
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
83
World-Class Resource: Read
Attitudes of Gratitude, by M.J.
Ryan
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
84
The World Class Achieves Happiness
From Being And Becoming,
Not Acquiring And Possessing
W
hile average people are on a psychological
manhunt for happiness, the world-class ranks
recognize that happiness cannot be pursued
directly. The great ones know happiness is a byproduct
of living life to the fullest. The pros forget chasing hap-
piness and turn their attention to fullling the vision
they have carefully constructed. Happiness eludes the
masses because they haven’t invested the time and
energy to study the animal. The masses repeatedly
attempt to create happiness from the outside in, whereas the great ones know sustained
happiness stems from being and becoming, not acquiring and possessing. Average people
have mastered short-term happiness, easily gained through instant gratication mecha-
nisms such as eating, spending money, or engaging in any pleasurable activity. The world
class invests a substantial amount of time insuring their future happiness by creating con-
gruency between who they are, what they’re doing, and where they’re going. Champions
are masters at doing such things as marrying the right person, selecting jobs they love
and building friendships with people they admire and respect. As a result, they indirectly
develop an incredible sense of gratitude and happiness.
“The human spirit needs
to accomplish, to achieve,
to triumph, to be happy.”
– Ben Stein,
author and actor
Action Step for Today: Ask this critical think-
ing question: “If you could be, have and do
anything you wanted, what would that look
like?” Write or type a one-page essay describ-
ing your answer. Forget any self-imposed or
perceived limits. Write this essay as if any-
thing were possible.
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
The World Class Achieves Happiness
From Being And Becoming,
Not Acquiring And Possessing
85
World-Class Resource:
Read The 100 Simple Secrets
of Happy People, by David
Niven, Ph.D.
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
86
Champions Believe In Honesty
C
hampions pride themselves on being honest,
open and straightforward. They carry these
philosophies into everything they do, and
are unwilling to sacrice them. While some people
acquire wealth dishonestly, professional performers
know real success lies in who you become, as
opposed to what you acquire. The great ones focus
their efforts on becoming the kind of people who
can attract the things they want out of life. Some
amateur performers believe success can be acquired
(even if it’s done dishonestly) and will manifest feel-
ings of happiness. Average people have a lottery-
like mentality, which explains why the lottery is so
popular. The lottery mentality is not dishonest, but
it carries the premise that more money and material
possessions automatically lead to being happier and
more fullled. The great ones have learned the real
victory is what they become as a result of the strug-
gle. Removing the struggle removes the victory. If
honesty is removed, the richness of the achievement
is diminished.
“It is possible that the scru-
pulously honest man may
not grow rich so fast as the
unscrupulous and dishonest
one; but the success will be of
a truer kind, earned without
fraud or injustice. And even
though a man should, for
a time, be unsuccessful, still
he must be honest: better to
lose all and save character.
For character is itself a for-
tune.”
– Samuel Smiles,
1812-1904,
physician, author
Action Step for Today: Commit
to purge your life of dishonesty.
The external effects of dishon-
esty are crippling to your rep-
utation; the internal effects are
deadly to your soul.
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
87
I
deas are the business champion’s primary asset.
They have the power to alter the world for the
better. Average people greatly underestimate the
potential value of their own ideas. Professional per-
formers know money will ow from any idea that
solves a problem, and the bigger the problem, the
richer the payoff. Champions cultivate their own ideas
and the ideas of other world-class performers. The
great ones are always engaged in critical thinking as it
relates to problem solving, and as a result, treat ideas
with the respect they deserve. Amateur performers
tend to dismiss many ideas before they have a chance
to be properly evaluated and tested. When things get
tough, the masses turn to others for help. When times get tough for champions, they turn
their attention to the inner workings of their minds so they can capture and cultivate great
ideas that can help turn things around. Average performers turn to outside sources when
money gets tight, but the great ones get quiet and focus on their thoughts and feelings,
looking for ideas on how to raise money fast. Most people never take their ideas beyond
the talking stage, but if champions believe in the idea, they move to the next step without
hesitation.
“The ideas I stand for are not
mine; I borrowed them from
Socrates. I swiped them from
Chestereld. I stole them
from Jesus. And I put them
in a book. If you don’t like
their rules, whose would you
use?”
– Dale Carnegie,
1888-1955, author
Action Step for Today: Commit to treat your
ideas as if they were the children of your soul . . .
because they are.
The World Class Knows Great
Ideas Are The Solution To Success
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
The Great Ones Are Products
Of Their Own Imagination
W
hile average performers think of imagination as child’s play, the world class
relies on it as a mental preview of things to come. Before champions make a
move, they have lived out the scenario through imagination. The great ones
know imagination is the rst step in the design of the perfect house or the perfect life.
Through this powerful faculty, they can preview their
futures. Champions often go on sabbaticals to places
of great natural beauty for the sole purpose of height-
ening their sense of imagination when pursuing the
solution to a problem. Pros understand the power of
their creative mind, and strengthen their imaginative
skills by drawing on them daily. The masses are obliv-
ious to this awesome natural gift. Champions com-
bine the power of imagination with their penchant for
action, and the results are the stuff of which dreams
are made. While the middle class is scolding their
children for daydreaming and letting their imagina-
tions run, the great ones are impacting the world with
the manifestation of their visions. As the Aborigines
are fond of saying, the world class is literally “Dream-
ing their world alive.”
“The great, successful men
of the world have used their
imaginations . . . they think
ahead and create their
mental picture, and then go
to work materializing that
picture in all its details, ll-
ing in here, adding a little
there, altering this a bit, but
steadily building, steadily
building.”
– Robert Collier,
1885-1950, author
Action Step for Today: Commit to investing three minutes each
day reviewing the essay you wrote in Action Step 67. Allow your
imagination to run wild with ideas of your perfect life. Remember
to ask this daily question: “If there were no limits, what would I be,
have, and do?” Forget about the ‘how-to’ part of the equation during
this exercise, and suspend any disbelief you may have. This three-
minute daily habit has the power to transform your life forever.
88
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF TH E WO R L D CL A S S
89
Champions Don’t Let Feelings
Get In Their Way
P
eople operating at the poverty-, working-, and
middle-class levels of awareness are always get-
ting ready to get started toward their goals. The
poverty class is going to nd work soon; the working
class is getting ready to move up from night shift to
day shift; the middle class is going to start working on
that graduate degree one of these days. All have good
intentions; yet they rarely move beyond their inten-
tions. They are always waiting and wondering when
the time will be better for them to begin. They are wait-
ing for their emotions to motivate them to action, and
as a result, they become slaves to their feelings. Champions are masters of their emotions,
and they know that waiting to feel like taking action is a losing proposition. They believe
there is never a better time to get started than today, and that tomorrow is merely a promis-
sory note; that any day could end up being their last. The great ones operate with a keen
sense of urgency, dreaming of the future while rmly rooted in the present. Average people
are smart enough and gifted enough to make their dreams come true, yet tend to wait so
long to attempt anything substantial that, by the time they have failed enough to have
learned the lessons they need to succeed, their life is over. Professional performers have
a heightened sense of life’s timeline, and their actions reect. While the masses are wait-
ing for the mood to strike them to act, the great ones start acting, regardless of whether
they feel like it or not. This small distinction in their thought process makes the difference
between living their dreams and dying with their music still inside them.
“It’s easier to act your way
into good thinking than it is
to think your way into good
action.”
– Bill Gove,
1912-2001, the father of
professional speaking
Action Step for Today: Decide to develop
the habit of not letting your feelings get in
your way. Make a commitment to get started
today, and continue the commitment for the
next thirty days, regardless of whether you
feel like it or not. Remember, habits start out
as cobwebs and turn into cables.
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
World-Class Resource: Purchase a copy of
Bill Gove’s Golden Gavel Acceptance Speech at
www.govesiebold.com.This 39-minute speech
on DVD is one of the funniest and most insight-
ful presentations you’ll ever see. In this talk, Bill
addresses how most people let feelings get in
their way and keep them from doing the things
they want to do.
90
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
91
The World Class Operates
From Love And Abundance
A
verage performers never consider the broad
scope and signicance love has on everything
we do. Professional performers know we can
only operate from one of two frames of consciousness
at any given time – ego or spirit. Middle-class per-
formers are masters of operating from ego, in which
pride and self-righteousness are the objectives of the
game. Amateur performers believe their success is pri-
marily their own doing. They believe in the self-made man/woman theory. The world class
is aware that all good things come from the spirit of love. They know love is the natural
order of the universe, and that ego and self-pride have been created by man over the centu-
ries to cover a fragile self-image. Many people feel inferior to others and mask their feel-
ings by displaying false pride and bravado. The great ones embrace love as the root of their
success and feelings of fulllment. They know that without the loving guidance and sup-
port of others, they could not have reached or even dreamed of aspiring to the world class.
Their recognition of and gratitude for the power of love creates more abundance in their
lives. This fountain of potential continues to bless the champions. The only thing that can
clog the system is ego, which is the evil stepchild of fear. The great ones lock the door
when ego comes to town. They only acknowledge the spirit-based consciousness, which
they recognize by its calling card: love and abundance. Ego cannot exist in this realm, only
gratitude. While the amateur egotistically believes he is responsible for his great success,
the pros know that the abundance of life comes from a far greater source.
“Life in abundance comes
only through great love.”
– Elbert Hubbard,
farmer, author
Action Step for Today: Monitor your mental state of
mind. Ask this critical thinking question every couple of
hours: “Am I operating from a consciousness of ego, or
a consciousness of spirit?” The answer is the blueprint
of your behavior. Your approach to problems, people
and life is greatly inuenced by your operating state of
mind. The world looks very different through the spirit
than through the ego.
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
World-Class Resource: Read
The Science of Mind, by Ernest
Holmes.
92
Am I operating from
S p i r i t
or
E g o ?
The Spirit is . . .
• Non-judgemental
• Loving
• Accepting
• Tolerant
• Devoid of pretension
• Calm
• Abundant
• Friendly
• Win/Win
• Forgiving
• Self-less
• Creative
The Ego is . . .
• Judgemental
• Fear driven
• Afraid of risk
• Competitive
• Pretentious
• Rushed
• Scarce
• Friend-less
• Win/Lose
• Unforgiving
• Selsh
• Frustrated
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
World-Class Leaders Are
Willing To Get Fired Everyday
A
mateur thinkers make lousy leaders because they operate out of a fear-based con-
sciousness. Fear-based leaders succumb to politics and pressure, which cripples
their ability to lead. Professional thinkers operate out of love and abundance and
fearlessly lead their people to become more than they ever believed possible. The most
common commodity in corporate America is the sales manager who craves the approval
and friendship of his sales team. This manager is more interested in making friends than
developing champions. The second most common commodity is the sales manager who
rules her team with an iron st, refusing to consider
feedback or input from the eld. Both of these manag-
ers are performing out of fear, and are both a dime a
dozen. The world-class leader is neither dictator nor
baby sitter. Great sales leaders have only two objec-
tives: drive sales and develop people. Sometimes that
means being unpopular and pushing people beyond
their comfort zones, and other times it means being
there for a team member who has hit rock bottom.
World-class leaders are chameleons who are able to
change and adapt to any situation, always with the
same goal in mind: bringing out the best in the people
they lead. Sometimes that means being tough. Other times it means being tender. Champi-
onship leaders are always walking the razor’s edge, and are willing to take any risk neces-
sary to achieve their objectives, even to the point of being red. The great ones never play
it safe when it comes to leading their team through change, knowing their job is to serve
as a guide and coach to their teams. World-class leaders follow their values and beliefs and
lead boldly and fearlessly. If their leadership costs them their job, the pros know they can
write their own ticket and work for any company they choose. The welcome mat is always
out for the great ones.
“Any great leader or coach
has to be willing to put it all
on the line. You have to be
willing to be red every day
when it comes to standing up
for what you believe in.”
– Billie Jean King,
tennis legend and coach
93
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
Action Step for Today: If you’re
a leader, manager or coach, ask
these critical thinking questions:
1) Am I leading, managing, or
.....coaching out of love or fear?
2) Am I more concerned about
.....being liked or leading people?
3) Do I have the courage to be
.....a strong, progressive leader
.....who brings out the best in
.....people?
94
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
Champions Don’t Care
Who Gets The Credit
A
verage performers believe information
is the key to whatever success they’ve
had, and they tend to hoard it for fear
of losing their power. Champions are different.
Champions know that information is everywhere.
The secret is taking action on the information
and developing competence. Middle-class per-
formers are stuck in the mindset that knowledge
is power, when the truth is that intelligent use
of knowledge is and always has been the seat
of true power. Pros are information-sharing con-
duits for their organizations. Because they are
working from a spirit-driven, instead of ego-
based mindset, who gets the credit makes no difference. Amateurs are afraid that, if they
don’t get the credit often enough, they will be forced out of their companies. Every deci-
sion to share information is carefully considered by amateurs. The pros operate from abun-
dance; fear is the last thing on their minds. Creating dynamic, positive feedback loops is an
ongoing mission for the champions. In their roles as leaders, they have driven fear out of
their organizations. People are encouraged to challenge ideas and information for the good
of the organization. The great ones know that if sharing too much information ever costs
them their position, they are always in demand in the marketplace. The pros will always
share information and credit, and will always be able to write their own ticket.
“Knowledge is power, which is
why people who had it in the
past often tried to make a secret
of it. In post-capitalism, power
comes from transmitting infor-
mation to make it productive,
not from having it.”
– Peter Drucker,
consultant
95
Action Step for Today: Rate your willing-
ness to share information for the good of
the organization on a scale of 1 to 7, 7
being most willing. If you score less than a
5, you may be operating primarily from an
ego-based consciousness rooted in fear.
Make a commitment to shift your thinking
more toward your spirit self.
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
Champions Are Zealots For Change
A
verage performers hold on to skills, compe-
tencies, and mindsets that have gotten them
to the position they hold today. Champions
know business and technology are changing so rap-
idly that constant innovation is the only way to thrive
and survive. While average performers are addicted
to the methods and strategies of the past, pros know
that, by the time most products hit the shelves, they
are nearly obsolete. The world they were trained to
succeed in during school no longer exists and the
rules keep changing. Amateurs struggle to keep things
the same, while pros embrace change at all levels
and learn to thrive on it. Middle-class performers see
change as a threat; world-class performers see it as the
most exciting time in human history. The great ones
know constant innovation is the order of the day. They
always look for a better way. As a result, greater inno-
vation collectively leads to more rapid change. Profes-
sional performers see all of this as a game in which
the individual who can be the most open, exible and
innovative wins. Average people yearn for the good
old days. The great ones know these are the good old
days.
“The people who get into
trouble in our company are
those who carry around the
anchor of the past.”
– Jack Welch,
former chairman and
CEO, General Electric
Action Step for Today:
Identify another old belief,
strategy or idea from the
past that is no longer work-
ing in the present, and
make a commitment to
update or dismiss it. In
the age of the mind, know-
ing when to make room
for new ways of getting
results is critical to your
success.
World-Class Resource: Read Making Change Happen
One Person at a Time, by Charles H. Bishop Jr.
This book is an excellent resource for accessing the
change capacity of any organization. For seminars
and consulting, check out Chicago Change Partners at
www.chicagochange.com
96
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
97
The Great Ones Operate
With Integrity
W
hile operating from a mindset of fear and
scarcity, average people tend to view integ-
rity as a luxury they hope to be able to keep.
In their effort to survive in a world they believe is out to
get them, integrity often gets left behind. Pros have the
advantage of operating from love and abundance, which
dictates that integrity be the baseline of every action
taken. Champions have a reputation for total integrity;
it is the foundation of their entry into any playing eld.
The great ones are always welcomed. Their co-workers,
colleagues and contacts know that when push comes to
shove, champions will always do the right thing. Integ-
rity is a habit of the pros, not because it succeeds, but
because it’s the right thing to do. When a champion tells you he will do something, you can
take it to the bank. Their handshake is a binding contract. Contrary to what they teach in
business school, handshake deals are still very common among the world class. The great
ones play by different rules, and rule number one is total integrity.
“In looking for people to
hire, you look for three
qualities: integrity, intelli-
gence, and energy. If they
don’t have the rst, the
other two will kill you.”
– Warren Buffet,
CEO, Berkshire
Hathaway
Action Step for Today: Just for today,
operate with complete integrity. Do
every single thing you promise yourself
and others. Experience what it’s like
to operate like one of the great ones.
A word of caution: you may become
addicted to the results you achieve
through this experience!
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
The Great Ones Are Bold
C
hampions, in general, are a bold group of people. Their superior self-condence
allows them to constantly push the envelope. Where average people are afraid
they will not be liked or respected by others, champions are only concerned with
whether their efforts will impress their mentor teams and their networks of contacts. Aver-
age people appear lazy to champions, so their opinions and ridicule don’t hold much
weight. The downside of world-class boldness is brazenness – when boldness is simply
taken too far. Champions are so laser-focused on their
targets and objectives that they can push too hard at
times. This is when their mentor teams become the eyes
and ears of the performers and get them back on track.
The great ones are always pushing. Boldness is so prev-
alent in champions because their belief system keeps
telling them they’re getting close to victory, and a little
more effort will do the trick. What average people see as
being pushy, champions see as part of the price for suc-
cess. It’s a small nuance in thinking that leads to very
large results.
“Only the bold get to the
top.”
– Publilius Syrus,
1st Century B.C.,
writer of Mimes
Action Step for Today: Just for today,
be bolder than you’ve ever been, and see
how it feels. Give your fears a day off and
pretend it’s impossible to fail. At the end
of the day, record your thoughts and feel-
ings about this exercise for future refer-
ence.
World-Class Resource: Read The Art of the
Deal, by Donald Trump. The billionaire real
estate tycoon reveals his boldness throughout
this fascinating book, and will give you ideas
about how you might apply boldness to differ-
ent aspects of your life.
98
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
99
Champions Are Interdependent
A
verage people tend to view the thoughts and
ideas of others not only as potentially useful,
but also as threatening to their egos and exis-
tence. As a result, amateurs are severely limited in the
size and scope of their accomplishments. Champions
understand the world is an interdependent, complex net-
work in which the aggregate potential is limitless. The
pros don’t need to ride off into the sunset as heroes.
They prefer to tackle bigger ideas and accomplish more
by working with a team of like-minded, high-integrity,
world-class individuals. Ross Perot said it well: “Life is
more like a cobweb than an organizational chart.” The
great ones know successful people and organizations of
the future must rely on the collective collaboration of
the team. With this in mind, the pros embrace and cel-
ebrate the contributions of all team members. The ama-
teurs feel threatened by the group, and set out to insure
they are properly credited by their superiors. The great
ones do the exact opposite. They want to insure individ-
ual team members receive enough credit for their contributions without being overshad-
owed by people in more visible roles. The difference creates a phenomenon known as
“ferocious cooperation.”
“If we are to compete effec-
tively in today’s world, we
must begin to celebrate col-
lective entrepreneurship –
endeavors in which the
whole of the effort is
greater than the sum of
the individual contribu-
tions. We need to honor
our teams more, our lead-
ers and maverick geniuses
less.”
– Robert Reich,
former U.S. Secretary
of Labor in the Clinton
administration
Action Step for Today: Ask this
critical thinking question: “Am I
an independent leader looking for
recognition, or an interdependent
leader looking for achievement with-
out being concerned about who
gets the credit?”
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
The World Class Knows
The Leader’s Primary Role
A
verage performers see the leader as an authority gure who has the power to hurt
them. As a natural result of this fear, amateurs focus on staying out of their leader’s
line of sight, hoping to avoid trouble. Champions embrace leadership for what it
is: the facilitation, guidance, and inuence necessary to bring about change. The pros know
leadership, at its highest level, is facilitated by example. While average people view leader-
ship as a role, the great ones know the heart and soul of leading goes well beyond the title
or position. The pros know a leader’s role only creates
a limited amount of inuence. They know leadership
is dependent on gaining the respect and admiration of
a group of people who independently decide to follow.
Leadership is bringing out the best in people for the
common good of the organization, and placing the credit
where it honestly belongs: with the team. The pros see
leadership as building a team, connected both intellec-
tually and spiritually, in order to manifest the vision
of the unit. It is a humbling and awesome responsibil-
ity. Champions are grateful for the opportunity to bring
about change and evolve as individuals at the same
time.
“Leadership is not a des-
ignated position; it’s a
phenomenon. It is people
following people because
they want to, not because
they have to.”
– Larry Wilson,
founder, Wilson
Learning Corporation
Action Step for Today: On a scale of 1
to 7, 7 being the highest, how would you
rate yourself as a leader? Ask three people
who know you well to rate you on the same
scale. With brutal honesty, ask them to
explain why they rated you as they did.
World-Class Resource: Get a copy
of Leading Change, by John P.
Kotter.
100
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
101
A World-Class Attitude Leads
To World-Class Happiness
W
orld-class performers all seem to agree that
attitude is everything. Our research shows
some champions are more focused on atti-
tude than others. While two people might be at the
same level of success, the one more focused on attitude
reports being happier. While the masses try not to have
a bad attitude in their struggle to survive, champions
have a positive attitude and always try to improve their
mental approach to life. While average people view the
idea of attitude as uff and rah-rah motivation, the world
class sees it as the cornerstone of life. They realize
their attitude has an impact on everyone they meet and
everything they do, as well as a monumental effect on
their level of happiness and fulllment. At some point,
champions realize the self-fullling nature of their own
mental approach to life, and make a decision to talk
themselves into the attitude they wish to have. With this
in mind, it would make sense that the higher ups in any organization have better attitudes.
In our research, we found this to be true in most cases. Yet our research disclosed some-
thing I believe is even more profound: the better the attitude toward life, the happier people
seemed to be. This proves the old idea that we create our own sense of happiness, regard-
less of our station or lot in life.
“I have a one-word deni-
tion of attitude: life. Atti-
tude is the difference maker
in life. It’s the treasure
that lies within you. A pos-
itive attitude is the key
that jump starts your life.
Attitude dictates whether
you’re living life or life is
living you. Attitude deter-
mines whether you are on
the way or in the way.”
– Keith Harrell,
speaker and author
Action Step for Today: Do a quick test: On a scale of 1 to 7,
7 being best, how good is your attitude toward life? Use criti-
cal thinking and be honest. If you score less than a 7, remem-
ber that attitude is a decision, and you can upgrade your
world view at any time. Attitude is a perception, created in
our minds, that has little or nothing to do with circumstances,
events or other people. It is the foundation of all of our habits,
actions and behaviors.
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
102
World-Class Resource: Invest in
your attitude by reading or listening
to the man known in corporate
America as Dr. Attitude, Keith Har-
rell. You can nd his books and CDs
in any major bookstore or by visit-
ing www.keithharrell.com
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
Champions Seek Balance
A
verage people don’t really have an issue with
balance, because they are not fully engaged
in their work. Balance is the Achilles’ heel of
world-class performers. In a perfect world, the world-
class could strike the perfect balance between work, lei-
sure, and life. In reality, the great ones are embroiled in
a constant struggle to maintain a balanced life. Average
performers think their life is out of balance if they work
after 5 p.m., pull a night shift once in a while, or work on a weekend. They want the same
luxuries the world class enjoys yet are unwilling to work for those luxuries. They will
swear this isn’t true, but the proof is in the pudding. Middle-class mentality creates middle-
class results. The numbers never lie. Average people live a life of self-deception and quiet
desperation, yet argue their life is out of balance because they work so hard. The pros have
the opposite problem. They burn the candle at both ends, and usually need more rest and
recovery time than they allow themselves. Some of the great ones have mastered balance,
but most walk a thin line between over-achievement and under-relaxation. As one of them
admitted to me recently, “Yeah, I do struggle with balance, and I’m working on it. But on
the other hand, I’d rather burn out than rust out.” The masses err on the side of too much
leisure, while the world class errs on the side of too much work. If you had to bet every
cent on one of them being successful and happy, who would you put your money on? Your
answer says a lot about which group you inhabit.
“There is more to life than
increasing its speed.”
– Mahatma Ghandi,
1869-1948,
Indian leader
Action Step for Today: On a scale of 1 to 7, 7 being
most balanced, how balanced has your life been during
the past six months? Make a commitment to add or sub-
tract one activity that would increase your score by at
least one point.
World-Class Resource: The best speaker I’ve ever heard
on the subject of life balance is Polly Bauer, the former
president of the Home Shopping Networks Credit Corpora-
tion. Visit her website, www.speakerpollybauer.com
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177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
Champions Are
Professional Listeners
A
mateur performers underestimate the
power of listening. In conversation, while
others are talking, they’re thinking about
what they’re going to say next. The pros are very
different. They see listening as the key factor
in uncovering what is really going on inside
the minds of other people. Human beings are
emotional creatures, with a driving need to be
understood, yet 95% of us aren’t listening. The
champions understand this need and use it to con-
nect with people on an emotional and spiritual
level. World-class salespeople know listening to
the needs of the prospect is the single most impor-
tant thing you can do in the sales process. World-
class managers know questioning and listening to
their sales people are the most effective methods of getting to know what motivates and
moves them to action. The great ones practice listening in meetings, at cocktail parties and
anywhere else they can hone their skills. Professional performers have a profound respect
for the art of listening and they use this skill to help them achieve their goals.
“Listen to everyone in your com-
pany, and gure out ways to get
them talking. The folks on the
front line – the ones who actu-
ally talk to the customers –
are the only ones who really
know what’s going on out there.
You’d better nd out what they
know.”
– Sam Walton, 1919-1992,
founder, Wal-Mart
Action Step for Today: Strike up a conversation
with someone and see how long you can keep that
person talking. Practice listening at a higher level.
Ask for clarication and for repetition of information.
Try to get a sense of what this person is really feel-
ing. Make a game out of getting good at listening.
World-Class Resource: Read Deep
Listening, by Robert Haskell, Ph.D.
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177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
105
The Great Ones
Are Masters Of Momentum
T
he masses are oblivious to the magnitude
of the role momentum plays in the perfor-
mance of emotional creatures. The world
class knows an emotional creature on a hot streak
can become a champion if the momentum lasts
long enough. Momentum is a state of mind that
ignites energy, enthusiasm and passion. A profes-
sional salesperson who thinks he is ‘in momen-
tum’ sounds and acts like a different person. In
fact, emotionally speaking, he is a different person.
The great ones use momentum to fuel their pas-
sion and transfer their beliefs to others. Profes-
sional performers learn to control their emotions
and create the perception of momentum before it
technically exists. The great ones know if the per-
ception of momentum is present, condence and power will continue to increase. While
average people stumble into momentum from time to time, world-class performers create
this emotional thought process from scratch. Momentum is a subjective emotional per-
ception, and therefore can be manufactured in the mind. This articial creation attracts
more momentum, until world-class performers are rolling forward like a locomotive. The
major distinction: average people wait for momentum to strike. The great ones create it on
demand.
“Momentum producers under-
stand an important law of phys-
ics: ‘Objects at rest have no
momentum.’ They know the
power of their thinking, plan-
ning and acting. Bottom line --
momentum producers are hard
to stop.”
– David Pollay,
founder,
The Momentum Project
Action Step for Today: Keep repeating this: “I
have massive momentum.” Find different ways to
program yourself with this message until you begin
to believe it. Remember, the subconscious mind
cannot make the distinction between what is real
and what is vividly imagined. Use the power of lan-
guage to talk yourself into an emotional state of
momentum toward your goals.
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
World-Class Achievement
Requires Teamwork
W
orld-class performers learn to see their great-
est achievements as a team effort. They real-
ize grand achievements demand more than
any one person can deliver. They enlist other great per-
formers to join the team, and often give most of the
credit for their achievements to these talented team
members. They have graduated from the ego-driven
stage of the self-made man/woman theory, realizing
that there is no such thing. They love the admiration for
their achievements, yet are more than happy to share
the kudos with their teammates. This shared work/credit
philosophy allows champions to take on big projects
with bold vision. When they approach an opportunity,
they think of the talent they will have to assemble to be
successful, with little or no thought of who will get the
credit for their success. Their world view of achieve-
ment seems to be, “It takes a village.” In some cases, champions are the team leaders, yet
they are willing to be subordinates if it serves the best interests of the project and/or makes
the most sense strategically. In the minds of champions, hard work and achievement are
the building blocks of a successful and happy life.
“What is the recipe for
successful achievement? To
my mind, there are just
four major essential ingre-
dients: Choose a career you
love . . . Give it the best
you have in you. Seize your
opportunities . . . And be a
member of the team.”
– Benjamin Fairless,
1890-1962, former
president, U.S. Steel
Action Step for Today: Create a dream list of the ten people you would
most like to serve on your team. Next to each name, list the reasons you
selected that person. Make this list even if you don’t have a major project
in mind. The simple act of identifying these people will set off a series of
thought processes that will lead you to the perfect project for this team.
World-Class Resource: Experience The Great
Game of Life, a high performance team-building
and corporate culture development course by Larry
Wilson. www.greatgameoife.com
106
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
107
Champions Evolve
From Proving Themselves
To Expressing Themselves
A
mateur performers are often driven by a need
to prove themselves to themselves and other
people. This need can easily become an addic-
tion for a person who craves acceptance and validation
from the outside world. Professional performers evolve
to a higher level of consciousness where outside
approval is no longer necessary. Champions still enjoy
the accolades and acceptance of people they respect, but
are no longer motivated to take action to achieve this
acceptance. The great ones are often motivated through
self-expression, by the need to share their unique tal-
ents and abilities with the world. Abraham Maslow, the
father of humanistic psychology, said it this way: “In
order for human beings to reach self-actualization, they
must become all they can be. The writer must write. The painter must paint. The salesper-
son must sell.” The world class doesn’t do these things to please other people, gain noto-
riety or get rich. They do it because it expresses who they are to themselves. In essence,
champions learn who they are in the act of self-expression, and often choose to share them-
selves with the world. The act of proving oneself is based in ego and rooted in the fear
of not being good enough. The act of expressing oneself is based in spirit and rooted in
the love of wanting to share and celebrate a person is uniqueness and inner beauty. Prov-
ing oneself is a process that must be forced onto others because of the attachment the per-
former has to the outcome. Expressing oneself is a natural process that has no attachment
to anything or anyone. The more praise they get, the more they need to feel good about
themselves. Expressing oneself creates feelings of fulllment in the act itself, regardless
of any outcome. It’s one of the reasons the great ones are more mentally tough than their
amateur counterparts.
“The ego-driven middle
class and upper class are
out to prove themselves.
The spirit-driven world
class wishes only to express
themselves. One struggles
against the current while
the other oats peacefully
down the river.”
– Steve Siebold
Action Step for Today: Ask this critical thinking question:
Are you out to prove yourself or express yourself?
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
108
World-Class Managers See
Themselves As Change Agents
M
anagers with a middle-class consciousness
believe their job is to maintain order and keep
things on course. Managers operating with
world-class consciousness believe their job is to bring
about change. The difference between the two philos-
ophies is profound. One is a babysitting service; the
other, a leadership role. Managers who are emotional
amateurs see themselves as gatekeepers and guardians
to the people in the eld. They are a buffer between the
people on the front lines and the executive suite. Man-
agers who are emotional professionals see themselves as change agents in a quintessential
transformational position. One is a job; the other is a career. One brings out the best in
people; the other maintains the status quo. The great ones are part motivator, coach, coun-
selor, parent, planner, negotiator and psychologist. Most of all, the best ones lead by exam-
ple with their attitudes and actions. Their actions are mirrored by their team, and they set
the tone. When managers are world class, you can bet their people are not far behind.
“Good management con-
sists of showing average
people how to do the work
of superior people.”
– John D. Rockefeller,
1839-1937,
founder, Standard Oil
Action Step for Today: If you manage or lead,
ask this critical thinking question: “Do my actions
reect a manager or a leader? Am I more inter-
ested in bringing about change or in maintaining
the status quo?”
World-Class Resource: Every world-class
manager should have a copy of this classic
book: Maslow on Management, by Abraham
Maslow. This may have been the most impor-
tant work of one the nest minds of the 20th
century.
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
109
Champions See Mistakes
As Intellectual Capital
M
istakes are viewed as failures by amateur thinkers. The aggregate cost of workers
hiding their mistakes out of fear of reprisal runs well into the billions of dollars
each year. Professional thinkers see mistakes in a totally different light. They see
mistakes as a company asset, to be recorded and duly avoided in the future. The real cost
is not the mistake itself, but in the lack of reporting and recording the mistake so it could
be avoided in the future. The great ones know the only way to avoid making mistakes in
business is to stop coming up with new ideas. The pros
embrace mistakes; they are a sign the organization is
pushing forward and forging into uncharted waters.
Champions know the secret to mistake management is
to drive the fear of reprisal completely out of the orga-
nization. They reward people for sharing their mis-
takes with the entire company, so the mistakes will not
be repeated. The great leaders know the future belongs
to the individuals and organizations which can bring
about and adjust to rapid change in a permanent white
water world, while simultaneously encouraging the
team to open up and share both failures and successes.
“The trouble in America is
not that we are making too
many mistakes, but that we
are making too few.”
– Phil Knight,
founder and
chairman, Nike
Action Step for Today: Encourage your
subordinates to share mistakes with you
and your team. Reward them for being
forthcoming. On a scale of 1 to 7, 7 being
most progressive, how progressive are
you when it comes to mistake manage-
ment? If you scored less than 5, make a
commitment to drive the fear of reprisal
out of your organization. It’s most likely
costing you a fortune.
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
The Great Ones
Only Negotiate Win-Win Deals
W
hen it comes to the art of negotiation, there are two basic approaches. The ama-
teur thinker sees negotiation as a competition between two parties to see who
can get the better end of the deal. This mindset is rooted in ego, as opposed to
spirit, with little or no consideration for the other party. The professional thinker is differ-
ent. She operates from spirit; her goal is to come to terms that benet all parties. A cham-
pion doesn’t see negotiations as a battle of wills, but as
a method of reaching a mutually benecial agreement
where all parties walk away satised. A pro has a repu-
tation for honesty, fairness and compassion, and typi-
cally refuses to enter into any kind of business deal or
arrangement with people who don’t also exhibit these
qualities. A world-class performer rarely does business
with people outside the world class; it’s an unwritten
law. Champions prefer to do things in a very straightfor-
ward manner. Anyone who violates this trust nds him-
self ostracized. The unspoken rules of negotiation are
simple: be fair, and make it a win-win deal. A champion
knows every symbiotic negotiation opens the door to
more business. More importantly, a champion lives and
does business according to one major philosophy: do the
right thing.
“My father said, ‘You must
never try to make all the
money that’s in a deal.
Let the other fellow make
some money, too, because
if you have a reputation
for always making all of
the money, you won’t have
many deals.’”
– J. Paul Getty,
1892-1976,
founder, Getty Oil
Action Step for Today: Ask these critical thinking
questions: “Do I negotiate to get as much as I can,
or do I look for the win-win deal? Do my business
colleagues see me as a smart and shrewd nego-
tiator, or as a smart negotiator who does the right
thing?” In the age of an interdependent, seamless,
global economy, the future belongs to the smart
and compassionate negotiator.
110
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
111
World-Class Resource: Get a copy of The
Secrets of Power Negotiating, by Roger
Dawson. This six-hour audio album will give
you a master’s degree in negotiation skills.
Visit www.rdawson.com
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF TH E WO R L D CL A S S
112
The World Class Builds And Nurtures
An International Network Of Contacts
T
he average person sees networking as attending
business and social events, passing out and pick-
ing up business cards. While this is a legitimate
form of networking, the world class operates on a
higher level. Champions know the most valuable assets
they have are their personal and professional networks.
In business, you can measure the power of a player by
the size of the Rolodex. Politicians are the greatest net-
workers on the planet. Every time they land in a differ-
ent town, they call the most inuential business leaders
in the area who are in their network, just to say hello.
They are tirelessly developing, building and maintain-
ing relationships with the most powerful people they
can reach. Professional performers are not only collecting business cards, but also hand-
picking exactly who they want to network with, based on who can help them the most.
World-class performers know most of the people who attend networking events are people
hunting for business. They want to invest time networking with other members of the
world class, so they strategically place themselves in world-class settings such as fund rais-
ers, benets, political functions, and country club outings. While the middle class collects
business cards at rubber chicken dinners, the great ones build relationships with the movers
and shakers of society. The difference in strategy is profound, and requires something only
the world class possesses: supreme self-condence. The middle class sees this as a crass
operational strategy of using people to climb the ladder of success. The world class sees it
as a symbiotic, synergistic relationship of give and take. Friends do favors, grant privileges
and create opportunities for friends. It’s the emotional nature of man to want to help people
who have helped him. The great ones are on a never-ending quest to develop opportunities
to reach out and assist people in their network. Then, when they need help, there’s a psy-
chological debt to which world-class performers respond. The power of contacts has put
more than one president in the White House and into other powerful positions. It is possible
for the average person to literally propel herself into the world-class ranks by constructing
a powerful network of contacts and friends. Of course, the middle class is surrounded by
the same opportunity every day, yet choose to let it pass in lieu of some other activity where
effort is minimal and pleasure is king.
“If I had to name the single
characteristic shared by all
truly successful people I’ve
met over a lifetime, I’d say
it is the ability to create
and nurture a network of
contacts.”
– Harvey Mackay,
founder, Mackay
Envelope Corporation
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
113
World-Class Resource: Pick up a copy of
How to Build a Network of Power Relation-
ships, by Harvey Mackay. This two-hour CD
is jam-packed with tips and suggestions you
won’t hear anywhere else.
Action Step for Today: Make two separate lists
of contacts. The rst list is your Top 100. This
list consists of the 100 most powerful people
you know, who will return your phone calls. The
second list is called the Dream 100. This list
consists of the 100 most powerful people who
you would love to have on your Top 100. Set
a goal to convert as many people from your
Dream 100 to your Top 100 as possible over the
next 12 months. Remember that (most likely)
the only thing standing between you and your
ultimate vision is the help and support of enough
other people. One contact can literally change
your life.
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
114
The Great Ones Never Hesitate
To Seize Opportunity
A
mateur performers are perpetually waiting for
their ships to come in. They’re waiting for the
man on the white horse, singing, “Here I come
to save the day!” The masses seem content to wait to
inherit their fortune from some long-lost rich relative or
by winning the lottery. The casinos are full of amateurs,
looking for opportunities. The pros don’t view oppor-
tunity as something to wait for, but as something they
create for themselves. The more opportunities that the
world class creates, the more that seem to come their
way. The great ones know they are completely respon-
sible for how their lives turn out. Average people keep
hoping luck and circumstance will favor them. Mean-
while, the champions are out impacting the world. At
the heart of this difference in philosophy is a lack of
fear. The great ones are unafraid to fail at a new oppor-
tunity. They see opportunity as a game that must be
played now, while there is still time left on the clock.
If they fail at that game, they move on to a new game.
They just keep playing until they win. Amateurs are so
paralyzed by the fear of losing that they never get in the
game. As a result, they never develop the courage and
condence to play at the world-class level. Security, to
the middle class, is much more important than seizing opportunity. But like happiness,
security cannot be sought directly. Security is an illusion created by the masses to justify
not taking risks and fullling their potential. The great ones play the game and capitalize
on every opportunity until the end. Meanwhile, the amateurs come to the end of their lives
and arrive safely at death.
“The lack of opportunity is
ever the excuse of the weak,
vacillating mind. Opportu-
nities! Every life is full of
them . . . every newspaper
article is an opportunity.
Every client is an oppor-
tunity. Every sermon is an
opportunity. Every busi-
ness transaction is an
opportunity – an opportu-
nity to be polite, an oppor-
tunity to be manly, and
opportunity to be honest
– an opportunity to make
friends.”
– Orison Swett Marden,
1848-1924, founder,
Success Magazine
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
115
Action Step for Today: Make a
list of the ve biggest opportuni-
ties you are considering taking
advantage of, and make a deci-
sion to move forward on at least
one of them in the next 24
hours. Suspend any fear you
may feel during the decision-
making process and take a cal-
culated risk. Building this habit
is a necessary prerequisite to
ascending to the throne of the
world class, and the only way to
develop this skill is by doing it.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
116
Champions Are Masters
Of Mental Organization
A
key trait of the world class is their ability to determine what they want, why they
want it, and how to get it. They are mentally organized and this shows up in every
aspect of their performance. Average people wallow around, unclear about what
they want and unsure if they are competent enough
to get it. Instead of disciplining themselves to orga-
nize their thought processes, it’s easier to lose them-
selves in things like television, booze, drugs, and
other destructive and pleasure-based activities. Ama-
teurs are smart enough to know they should create
an organized plan for their life, but opt to be dis-
tracted by outside activities. Thinking, real think-
ing, may be the hardest work of all. The world class
invests a substantial amount of time planning, cre-
ating and revising their strategy to manifest their
ultimate vision. While average people spend more
time organizing and planning their yearly vacation,
the great ones are structuring and restructuring their
lives daily. Professional performers know their mind is a moving river, making new inroads
every day, and therefore requires never-ending revision of their ultimate goals and dreams.
No matter what stage of the game they’re in, the great ones are conscious of the value of
ongoing mental organization and clarity of purpose.
“In organization there is
always strength. Especially is
this true in regard to a well-
organized human being. He
doesn’t waste his substance,
but is forever improving his
mind and giving and radiat-
ing condence.”
– George Matthew Adams,
1878-1962, author
Action Step for Today: On a scale of 1 to 7, 7 being
most organized, rate your mental organizational skills. In
other words, rate your level of mental clarity, starting with
the vision for your life all the way down to scheduling
your daily activities. If you score less than a 5, it’s time to
revisit the vision you have for your life. After you estab-
lish a clear vision for where you want to go, your daily
organizational skills and priorities will become self-evi-
dent.
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
117
The World Class
Catapults Their Consciousness
By Overcoming Obstacles
W
hile the masses see obstacles as their primary
adversary, champions view them as opportu-
nities to expand their level of thinking and
competence. Professional performers know the only way
they can truly become mentally tough enough to mani-
fest their vision is to struggle and ght their way through
obstacles. There is no other way. The great ones are con-
scious of the fact that success is trial by re. The mid-
dle-class consciousness avoids obstacles at all costs and
looks for the easy way out. The world class builds their
own roads and forges ahead, knowing the strength of
character gained from overcoming obstacle after obstacle will be the measure of their true
success, and with that rock-solid character, even greater things can be accomplished. If
you remove the obstacles, you remove the opportunity to grow. The world class becomes
great by overcoming more obstacles than the middle class. They get tough because they’re
in the game, getting hit and taking shots. Professional performers are good at overcoming
obstacles because they are always engaged in this process. Amateurs spend so little time
staring down the dragon that they simply never get tough enough to become pros. The fear
of failure looms deep in the psyche of the masses. The great ones are sometimes fearful, yet
develop more courage with each new obstacle, until they stand up one day as true mental
warriors.
“The block of granite which
was an obstacle in the path
of the weak, becomes a
stepping-stone in the path
of the strong.”
– Thomas Carlyle,
1795-1881, author
Action Step for Today: Make a list of the three biggest
obstacles you currently face. Next, determine the worst
thing that could possibly happen if you decided to mount
an all-out assault to overcome them. If you can live with
the worst-case scenario, suspend your fear and attack your
obstacles as if it is impossible to fail. If you succeed, your
self-condence will soar. If you fail, you will live to ght
another day.
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
World-Class Resource: Pick up a copy of
Unstoppable, by Cynthia Kersey. This inspira-
tional book has forty-ve powerful stories of
perseverance and triumph.
118
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
The Great Ones Are At Peace
With Themselves
A
mateur performers tend to believe peace of
mind can be sought and captured. Professional
performers know chasing after peace guaran-
tees it will elude them. Peace, much like happiness, is
an elusive state of mind, reached only when perform-
ers have done everything within their power to achieve
or accomplish a task or goal. The peace of mind experi-
enced is an indirect result of knowing that all possible
physical and mental resources have been exhausted in the process. Average performers
are all too aware they are not giving it 100%, so peace of mind continues to elude them.
Instead of increasing their efforts, they usually decide to employ a distraction of one form
or another to avoid thinking about their half-hearted efforts. The great ones are like old
warhorses: they keep coming back for more. Professional performers either win the game
and experience the exhilaration of victory, or they suffer defeat with the peace of mind of
knowing they did everything in their power to win. It’s a winning proposition either way.
The world class is at peace with themselves because they understand the laws of human
nature.
“The foundation of mental
toughness is to always be
at peace with yourself.”
– Jerry Zimmerman,
tennis coach
119
Action Step for Today: Ask these critical thinking questions: “Am I at
peace with myself? Am I satised with who I am as a human being?
Do I feel I am enough just being who I am, or do I dene myself by
my successes and failures?” Be honest with yourself, and then make
a commitment to bring more peace into your life. Remind yourself that
you already have everything you need to be at peace with yourself. You
were born with it, and your greatest successes and worst failures can’t
ever change this universal truth.
World-Class Resource: Read Notes to Myself,
by Hugh Prather. This little book will have you con-
templating the idea of peaceful thinking in a whole
new way. It’s a philosophical classic.
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
120
Champions Know The Power
Of Persistence
A
verage people never truly decide what they
want, so they wander from job to job, chasing
different things until time nally runs out. Per-
sistence, to amateurs, is never really a factor, because
they haven’t focused on any single goal long enough
to be persistent. When pros determine what they want,
they burn their vision into their minds on a daily basis.
They become obsessed with attaining the goal at almost
any cost. At this stage, persistence becomes the primary
factor in their success. Amateurs are often impressed by
this, yet the champions are simply following their pas-
sions and refusing to look back. They reach a mental
state in which the failure to persist is no longer an
option. The great ones know the longer they hang tough,
the greater the odds of victory. What looks like Hercu-
lean persistence to the outside world is really just the
manifestation of world-class mental clarity in action.
Champions decide what they want, down to the last
detail, and then wage war to get it. Their sense of pur-
pose and dogged persistence is a hard combination to beat. The great ones become unstop-
pable because they’ve convinced themselves there is no way to fail. This subjective
perception is one of the most common thought processes of the world class. While the rest
of the world watches with doubt and disbelief, champions talk themselves into believing
that winning is their destiny and defeat is impossible. This winning expectation is the fuel
that drives the champion to persist until they succeed, no matter how much pain they have
to endure.
“If I had to select one
quality, one personal char-
acteristic that I regard as
being most highly corre-
lated with success, what-
ever the eld, I would pick
the trait of persistence.
Determination. The will to
endure to the end, to get
knocked down seventy
times and get off the oor
saying, “Here goes number
seventy-one!”
– Richard M. DeVos,
founder,
Amway Corporation
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
121
Action Step for Today: Make a list of the
times you exhibited iron-clad persistence. Go
back to your childhood, if necessary. Next, ask
this critical thinking question: “If I applied that
same world-class persistence to my current
challenges, would it change my life?” If the
answer is yes, you know what to do!
World-Class Resource: Read the 1921
classic, The Go-Getter, by Peter Kyne.
This book is the ultimate tale of a man
who refused to settle for second best. I
guarantee it will alter the way you think
about the concept of persistence forever.
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
122
The World Class Pursues Power
To Manifest Their Dreams
A
verage people have no idea how powerful they can be. The masses tend to believe
only the rich and famous have power. Professional performers have a clear under-
standing of their personal power, as well as their power to inuence, inspire, moti-
vate and persuade other people. The world class wants to become more powerful for the
purpose of expanding their inuence. Amateurs who develop or acquire power can be lethal
weapons. If you want to see the true character of a man,
give him power. Power tends to bring forth the innate
nature of the person, much like alcohol does. Feed some
people a few drinks too many, and they become belliger-
ent and mean. Power has the same effect. On the other
hand, grant power to the pros, and they will use it for
good. The response to the power stimulus stems from
character. Champions use power to help themselves
and to help other people, without becoming attached
or addicted. The great ones know all power is tempo-
rary; the only purpose it serves is to help and liberate
people. Only the great can possess power and not abuse
it. While the masses tend to view powerful people as
evil, arrogant and greedy, the world class knows it’s how
power is used that makes it good or bad. The ego-driven
upper class tends to use power as a tool of manipulation. The spirit-driven world class
uses the same power to help set themselves and other people free. Power in the hands of
egocentric leaders is dangerous. Power in the hands of the great ones is what’s responsible
for the growth and success of civilization.
“You all have powers
you’ve never dreamed of.
You can do things you
never thought you could
do. There are no limitations
in what you can do, except
the limitations in your own
mind as to what you cannot
do. Don’t think you cannot.
Think you can.”
– Darwin P. Kingsley
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
123
Action Step for Today: Ask this crit-
ical thinking question: “Do I wield
my power from an ego- or spirit-
based consciousness?” Make a con-
scious effort not to abuse people with
your power. Remember, the abuse of
power is a manifestation of the ego
in action. If you make the shift to a
spirit-based consciousness, this ele-
vated level of vibration will keep you
focused on using your power for the
greater good of all. This habit of oper-
ating from a spirit-based conscious-
ness also creates feelings of love and
abundance that lead you to believe
in your limitless potential, as well as
the limitless potential of others. This
phenomenon occurs when your spirit
is vibrating at the same frequency as
the force that created the universe.
It’s like tuning into a radio station: the
sound only gets clear when you tune
into the frequency of the radio signal.
SOURCE
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
124
The Great Ones
Always Push For Progress
T
he masses tend to rebel against change and prog-
ress. It makes them feel uncomfortable because
it’s unfamiliar. They perpetually long for the
good old days, although you sometimes get the feeling
they were doing the same thing then! The pros know
progress is the way of the world; it needs to be embraced
and supported at every turn. In recent years, the gap
between amateurs and pros has widened because of the
rocket-like acceleration of progress in business and in
life. The great ones think progressively and talk almost exclusively about the future. Their
philosophy seems to be, “Onward and upward.” While most people are complaining about
how things are never going to be the same, champions are applauding the same concept.
They know things are not supposed to be the same; that progress is the natural order of a
healthy, growing society. Amateurs feel victimized by progress. It scares them. The fear
and scarcity they carry inside themselves is saying, “What if I’m not good enough to sur-
vive in this new environment?” Meanwhile, the world class is saying, “Bring it on!”
“Progress consists largely
of learning to apply laws
and truths that have always
existed.”
– John Allan May,
author
Action Step for Today: What is your attitude toward progress? Do
you react to progress with fear or do you respond to progress with
love? Just for today, adopt an attitude of love and abundance toward
progress of any kind, even if you have to fake it. Tell yourself and
others how thrilled you are about the progress that’s taking place.
Become aware of how this makes you feel. Remember, you can
always go back to a fear-based consciousness. The masses are
afraid of almost everything, and they would prefer that you feel the
same way. After a day of thinking and speaking thoughts of love and
abundance, it will be up to you whether to go back and join them, or
to forge ahead with a new or upgraded world-class attitude toward
progress.
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
Champions Praise People
Lavishly And Often
A
mateur performers tend to see praise as a luxury,
to be passed on sparingly to others from time to
time. Champions use praise as an integral com-
ponent in their everyday interactions with others. Most
people are literally starving for praise, due to the fact
that 95% of the population are amateurs in the art of
interpersonal communication. Emotional creatures have
a high need, and some even a mild addiction, to the
sweet-sounding words of encouragement and recognition. Professional performers are
careful not to praise the same person too often for fear of diminishing the power of their
words. At the same time, they actively search to catch people doing something that merits
carefully thought-out and well-spoken words of kindness. Champions know a little praise
goes a long way in making people happy. An honest compliment might be remembered for
years to come. Kind words cost nothing, yet accomplish so much. World-class performers
know all doors open to praise and courtesy, and more signicantly, all hearts open, too.
The great ones use praise to lighten the load, ease the burden, and warm the heart. They
know most people are lonely, afraid or suffering through some kind of painful situation
that’s invisible to the rest of the world. Champions are a beacon of light in a cloudy, stormy,
unpredictable world. Armed with praise, they are the ultimate force for good.
“Appreciative words are
the most powerful force for
good on earth.”
– George W. Crane
Action Step for Today: Make a commitment to become a
‘Praise Finder,’ always looking for praiseworthy behavior to
reward with words. Once this world-class habit becomes a part
of your everyday consciousness, be aware of the impact it has
on your relationships with others. When dealing and communi-
cating with other people, remember most of us are starved for
praise, no matter how high a position we occupy.
125
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
The World Class Is Always
Willing To Pay The Price
T
he average person would be abbergasted at the amount of time and effort that pro-
fessional performers invest on their way to the top. Amateurs use words like lucky
and opportunistic to describe the world class, but they couldn’t be farther from the
truth. The great ones pay a tremendous price for their success. While the masses spend
an inordinate amount of time planning and scheming ways to avoid doing the work neces-
sary to win, champions are out on the playing eld paying the price. The middle-class con-
sciousness is convinced there is a shortcut to success, and are bound and determined to nd
it. Of course, there never has been a shortcut to success, nor is there a glamorous method
of paying the price. There is only the blood, sweat and tears of delayed gratication. There
is only the pain and suffering of practice. There is no escape from it, and the winners know
it. You either pay the price for success or pay the price in regret. Only champions know
the price of success is a much lighter burden to bear than the ongoing torture of regret.
As speaker Jim Rohn says, “Paying the price weighs ounces . . . but regret weighs tons.”
To thinking and contemplative people, the only intelligent choice is paying the price. The
alternative is mental torture. Success is a toll road . . . pay now or pay later. You already
know what the great ones do.
“I am wondering what would have happened to me if some uent
talker had converted me to the theory of the eight-hour day and
convinced me that it was not fair to my fellow workers to put
forth my best efforts in my work. I am glad that the eight-hour
day had not been invented when I was a young man. If my life
had been made up of eight-hour days, I don’t believe I could
have accomplished a great deal. This country would not amount
to as much as it has if the young men of fty years ago had been
afraid that they might earn more than they were paid for.”
– Thomas Edison, 1847-1931, inventor
126
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
127
Action Step for Today: Ask
this critical thinking ques-
tion: “Do my current habits,
actions and behaviors sug-
gest I am more interested in
instant pleasure or delayed
gratication?” If the answer
is instant pleasure, don’t feel
bad. 95% of the population
falls into this category. If
you’re ready to break free
of the pleasure loop that
leads to regret, decide today
to begin pursuing the path
of delayed gratication. This
doesn’t mean you can’t
enjoy pleasure. Just focus
on tasks, activities and goals
that will give you gratica-
tion for a lifetime, instead of
just a few minutes.
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
128
The Great Ones Are Aware
Of Their Limitless Potential
P
eople operating at the poverty-, working- and middle-class levels of conscious
awareness seem to be governed by beliefs which keep them bound to a life of quiet
desperation. Because most of us inherited and learned our beliefs from well-inten-
tioned amateurs, it makes sense that the majority of us are convinced we can only go so
far in life. Champions know this to be a colossal myth that has held millions of people in a
mental prison. By the time most people gure out they’ve been sold a bill of goods, their
lives are nearly over. The most common regret men-
tioned by residents in nursing homes is, “I should
have tried more things and taken more risks.” The
world class either receives professional-level pro-
gramming as children or is lucky enough to be
exposed, mentored or inuenced by one of the great
ones along the way. The latter is far more common.
Champions wake up one day and realize their pos-
sibilities and potentials are almost limitless. They
realize if they are willing to pay the price, they can
build a mentor and support team that can help them
accomplish nearly any goal or dream they can envi-
sion. After this realization, only a small percentage
of people actually take the next step – deciding on
the single thing they want more than anything else.
This will be the primary focus and driving force of
their lives. Most people fall by the wayside because they simply want too many things
half-heartedly. The great ones make a decision, build a team and shake the world.
“Compared to what we ought
to be, we are only half awake.
We are making use of only a
small part of our physical and
mental resources. Stating the
thing broadly, the human indi-
vidual thus lives far within his
limits. He possesses power of
various sorts which he habitu-
ally fails to use.”
– William James,
1842-1910, author
Action Step for Today: Ask ve people who really know and care about
you to give you a list of your ve greatest attributes and talents, and why
they believe you are so gifted in these areas. You may be surprised at how
others perceive you, and these lists may inspire you to tap some of the
talents that you didn’t even realize you had. Be sure to make a copy of
these lists and put the originals in a safe deposit box or some other safe
place. These lists will be a source of motivation and inspiration for you for
the rest of your life, especially during times of doubt and despair.
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
129
Champions Prepare To Win
A
verage people seem to have a strategy of
“Ready, re, aim!” In other words, most
people fail to do the necessary prepara-
tion and planning it takes to succeed. Middle-
class performers have a fondness for winging it.
Some actually brag about their lack of planning,
like a kid in school who boasts about not study-
ing for an exam. Amateur performers are always
looking for the easy road, yet appear to be con-
founded by their lack of success. Champions are
perennial planners. They are always charting and
changing their course to be certain everything is
on track. Skating the details of preparation never
occurs to the world class, because they are sur-
rounded by a society full of amateurs who prove
the theory doesn’t work. The great ones don’t
limit their plans to their own scope of knowl-
edge and experience. They know someone, some-
where, knows how to do it better and is willing
to help. Planning isn’t popular with amateurs
because it’s not always fun and it rarely pro-
duces instant pleasure. The masses are profes-
sional pleasure seekers and planning doesn’t fall
into this category. Champions have learned to
delay their gratication as long as necessary in
order to breathe life into their goals and dreams.
“The inch factor…when not
prepared to win we will inch
when the customer poses a ques-
tion we cannot handle.”
– Lou Wood,
Region Business Director,
Johnson & Johnson/OMP
Action Step for Today:
Commit to creating a ninety-
day action plan to carry you
closer toward your ultimate
vision for your life. Ninety
days is long enough to build
momentum and short enough
to keep your attention. Toward
the end of this time, create
another ninety-day action
plan. This habit is one of
the best practices of Fortune
500 sales and management
teams.
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
The World Class Is Committed
To Personal Development
A
verage performers wouldn’t read a personal
development book or listen to a personal
development recording if you paid them.
Only about 5% of the population study personal
development – our exact estimate of the percentage
of professional performers in this country. Interest-
ing, isn’t it? The masses seem to view personal devel-
opment as motivational nonsense. Of course, most of
these people are struggling to make ends meet. In con-
trast, many world-class people, and those who aspire
to world-class levels, are believers in the personal-
development movement. You don’t have to convince
a champion to want to win. Personal development,
by denition, is about discovering the unique talents,
abilities and potentials that lie dormant within us. The great ones are always looking for
that one little adjustment, strategy, distinction or technique that will give them an edge
over the competition, and that’s exactly what personal development offers. As Bill Gove
was famous for saying, “All of us already have everything we need inside of us to make
our lives work. Personal development is not about self-improvement . . . it’s about self-
discovery. It’s about rediscovering what we already know.”
“I’ve spent the last forty
years trying to convince
corporate America that the
fastest way to improve the
bottom line was in the per-
sonal development of their
employees.”
– Larry Wilson,
founder, Wilson
Learning Corporation
Action Step for Today: Make a commitment to attend
two seminars and/or workshops in the next twelve months
for your own personal growth and development. Set a
goal to listen to one of your favorite nonction authors/
speakers every day when you’re in the car. Set another
goal to read one positive/inspirational book a month for
the next twelve months. Map out a personal development
plan of action and you’ll be amazed at the results.
130
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
131
The Great Ones Are Problem Solvers
T
he goal of world-class performers is to solve problems fast and move on to solving
bigger, more complex problems. After all, the great ones know business and enter-
prise are based on problem solving. It’s the cornerstone of commerce. Amateurs
tend to spend more time jockeying for position to gain favor from their superiors than
they do solving problems. Amateurs are looking for
instant ego gratication and need to be given proper
credit and recognition for their problem-solving prow-
ess. Champions are more team-oriented. They know
they are simply a cog in the wheel of a mastermind
machine, where the sum of the group intelligence
and experience dwarfs individual ability. The great
ones are not interested in management kudos; they are
interested in results. Professional performers’ teams
solve the problem and plead with management for
more responsibility, then solve the next set of prob-
lems and beg management for even greater responsibility. Champions repeat this cycle
over and over until they land the position they envision. This is one of the reasons the
great ones write their own ticket in corporate America. While average people are complain-
ing about being overworked and underpaid, pros know their ticket to the executive suite
is paved with problem solving. When champions want a raise, they don’t have to ask for
one. All they have to do is help the organization solve larger, more complex problems, and
increased compensation will follow. The world class understands increased compensation
is the effect; problem solving and adding value is the cause. Instead of wishing and beg-
ging for more money, the great ones attack the cause, and the effect eventually takes care
of itself.
“We teach collaborative
problem-solving. In school,
it’s called cheating.”
– Edward Bales,
director of
education, Motorola
Action Step for Today: Ask this critical thinking question: “Am I will-
ing to solve larger, more complex problems in exchange for increased
compensation?” If the answer is yes, go to your boss today and ask
for more responsibility. There is never a lack of money in any organi-
zation for a person who can solve major problems. The next time you
are daydreaming about making more money, stop daydreaming and
ask for a bigger problem to solve.
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
World-Class Resource: If you’re in com-
mission sales, get a copy of Bob Proc-
tor’s classic CD album, Your Mission in
Commission. This is the best resource
I’ve ever studied on commission sales.
Bob Proctor tells it like it is, without the
uff. This is real-world material, delivered
by one the great masters of commission
sales. You can purchase this program at
www.bobproctor.com
132
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
Champions Are Obsessed
With Productivity And Results
A
verage performers think of work in terms of
time invested on the job. World-class per-
formers think of work in terms of overall pro-
ductivity, output and results. Middle-class performers
are far more concerned with what’s for lunch than
with the productivity of the business day. Their bodies
are at work, but their minds are elsewhere. Profes-
sional performers tend to work in jobs and businesses
they love. As a result, thoughts of how to be more suc-
cessful and productive rarely leave their mind. The
great ones have to force themselves into nonwork
activities just to give their mind a chance to rest and
recover. Is it any wonder why the world class controls
over 90% of the wealth in America? The only people
pros are competing against are other pros – about 5%
of the workforce. The amateurs are no match for pros.
How could they be? How can a person who is half
engaged honestly expect to go head to head with the
great ones? They can’t, and they don’t, which is why
middle-class performers will always live middle-class existences. Don’t misunderstand:
they have the intelligence, talent, and ability to go pro, but they usually lack the will. Mean-
while, the great ones are the most sought-after group of business leaders in the world. They
are welcome in any organization during good times and bad. The world class has an open
ticket anywhere they want to go because they are obsessed with increasing productivity
and achieving results.
“We know where most of
the creativity, the innova-
tion, the stuff that drives
productivity lies – in the
minds of those closest to
the work. It’s been there,
in front of our noses, all
along while we’ve been run-
ning around chasing robots
and reading books on how
to become Japanese –- or at
least manage like them.”
– Jack Welch,
chairman and CEO,
General Electric
133
Action Step for Today: Rate your professional produc-
tivity on a scale of 1 to 7, 7 being highest. If you scored
less than a 6, make a list of three things you could do
to increase your overall productivity. After you make your
list, go to your boss and ask for additional suggestions.
This one exercise may double or even triple your produc-
tivity and results.
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
134
The World Class Is Profit Driven
T
he masses seem to have a collective belief that
prot equates to greed. Professional perform-
ers understand that prot is what keeps the
doors open, and what supports the ongoing innovation
a company needs to compete. While the world class
knows prot is the lifeblood of business, they are also
aware of the power and responsibility that go with it.
Give amateur performers a prot surplus, and greed
kicks in. Do the same with pros, and watch as they
turn their sights to a higher level of consciousness.
They consider how they can reinvest and disperse
extra money beyond the normal prot margin into
their community and the world at large. The great ones
tend to view the world as one big community that’s
increasingly interdependent. They seem to follow the
“To whom much is given, much is expected” philoso-
phy. Pros are aware that prot may not be the purpose
of a business, but without it, there is no business. On a larger scale, without prot there
is no nancial contribution to send back to a world in need. The world class operates on
a global level of awareness, and the amateurs should be glad they do. While middle-class
thinkers are worrying about who’s going to win the Super Bowl or the World Series, the
great ones are working to do their part as leaders to ensure the world is better off tomorrow
than it is today.
“Protability is a necessary
condition for existence and
a means to more important
ends, but it is not the end
in itself for many of the
visionary companies. Prot
is like oxygen, food, water,
and blood for the body; they
are not the point of life, but
without them, there is no
life.”
– James Collins and
Jerry Porras,
authors of Built to Last
Action Step for Today: Reinvest a small
amount of your prot or extra money back
into your community. It’s not the amount
that’s important; it’s the habit. See how
it makes you feel to circulate your abun-
dance.
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
135
The Great Ones Take Responsibility
O
ne of the critical factors separating amateurs
from pros is responsibility. People operating
at the poverty- and working-class levels of
awareness often see themselves as victims of the pow-
erful. They create invisible mental barriers that, in
their minds, hold them back from moving up. They
blame other people for keeping them down, such as
their parents, friends and others of inuence during
their childhood. People at the middle-class level of
awareness are a little more evolved, but tend to make
safety and security their number one priorities. They
hold on so tightly to what they have that they fail to
see the real abundance staring them straight in the face. Average people in this category
are terried of losing what they have, because their mind is submerged in the cesspool
of scarcity. People at this level truly believe their supply of money is limited, and if they
lose what they have, they will never get it back. The majority of the population has this
belief. People operating at the upper-class level of awareness tend to be unafraid, aggres-
sive, ultra-competitive warriors who approach life like a battle. They know there is abun-
dance and they are out to get it. The upper class tends to operate primarily from their ego.
People at the world-class level are a step ahead of the upper class, simply because they
operate from their spirit-self rather than their ego-self. The great ones have a thought pro-
cess, philosophy and habit all rolled into one that overshadows the rest: I am responsible.
The world class realizes they are completely responsible for their success or failure, as well
as responsible for giving back some of the blessings bestowed upon them as a result of their
tremendous success. Operating from a world-class level of awareness almost always pre-
cedes their success. The great ones keep marching forward, making a difference in them-
selves and the world.
“Success on any major scale
requires you to accept
responsibility . . . In the nal
analysis, the one quality that
all successful people have
. . . is the ability to take on
responsibility.”
– Michael Korda, author
Action Step for Today: Commit to taking total respon-
sibility for everything that happens to you. This one
change in thinking has the power to launch you to the
world-class level faster than any other single idea.
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
136
Champions Take Risks
A
verage performers are risk averse. They’ve
been taught that to make it through life in one
piece, play it safe and be thankful they have
a roof over their head. “Stay below the radar and
you won’t get hurt,” seems to be their world view.
With a mindset rooted in fear and scarcity, they
unconsciously set a goal of arriving safely at death.
World-class performers work from an abundance-
based consciousness rooted in love, which knows no
limits or bounds. The pros take risks – not because
they are necessarily more courageous – but because
they believe they can get back anything they lose. In
the minds of champions, resources and money are abundant. As a result, the fear of loss has
very little inuence with this group. Champions have always been risk takers, because they
have come to understand that business and life are about learning and growing. How can
you learn and grow when you never step out and try something new and exciting? There is
never a lack of resources, only a lack of ideas. Without risk, there can be no progress. All
of us only have so much sand left in the hourglass, and one day our sand will run out. The
time to risk is now and the great ones know it.
“I don’t want to nd myself
in a nursing home someday,
thinking that all I did was
play it safe.”
– Charlie Eitel,
Chairman/CEO,
The Simmons Company
Action Step for Today: Learning to be comfortable when
taking calculated risks is an acquired skill. The only way to
develop it is to begin to take risks. Decide today to take a
small risk on something you’ve been thinking about doing. Feel
the fear, and do it anyway. If this process is new to you, rest
assured – you will feel less fear with every risk you take.
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
137
The World Class Has
Tremendous Self-Respect
T
he poverty-, working- and middle-
class levels of consciousness tend
to struggle with respect. Respecting
others is directly related to respecting your-
self. It’s been said “You cannot give what
you do not have,” and respect falls directly
into this category. Respecting other people is
easier for a pro because he has great respect
for himself. The struggles and battles he has
waged forged his condence and character
far beyond that of the average person. It’s
difcult for an intelligent person to play it
safe every day and walk away with solid self-respect. It might be easier for the amateur
if he was less talented or less intelligent than the pro. Yet they are not. In some cases, an
amateur can be even more gifted than the pro. But the amateur has settled for a life of
mediocrity, and deep down, they know it. They are dying with their music still inside. This
often causes great sadness and even depression. To know you are capable of world-class
performance and decide to play it safe is a hard concept to stomach for an able-minded
individual. Sometimes the television, the ball game, the movies, or the alcohol are enough
to drown out that little voice whispering that life is passing them by, and sometimes it
is not. As a result, low self-esteem and self-respect tend to breed low respect for others.
This thought process has done a lot of harm throughout the world. Human beings are emo-
tional creatures who crave respect. When they don’t get it, they begin to cause trouble.
The world-class performer, on the other hand, is fully engaged in life and living. His self-
respect lends itself to respect others. When he is not respected by others, he chalks it up to
middle-class mentality. After all, he thinks to himself, aren’t amateurs supposed to act like
amateurs?
“A ippant, frivolous man may rid-
icule others, may controvert them,
scorn them; but he who has any
respect for himself seems to have
renounced the right of thinking
meanly of others.”
– Johann Wolfgang von Goethe,
1749-1832, German dramatist
Action Step for Today: Ask this critical thinking question: “What single
habit, action or behavior could I upgrade or change that would increase
my level of self-respect?” Next, make a commitment, in writing, to make
this upgrade or change in the next thirty days. Do the same thing every
month for the next twelve months, and watch your life transform.
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
Champions Know Revenge
Is For Amateurs
D
epending on whether they are operating pri-
marily from spirit or ego, amateurs tend to
be interested in the idea of revenge. Many
amateurs believe their lack of success and fulll-
ment is someone else’s fault, which leads to thoughts
of getting even. Revenge as a strategy is not limited
to the middle class. Many very successful upper-
class performers still believe in striking back at
their competitors. The upper class often owes their
tremendous nancial success to the drive that is
stimulated by their large egos. Unfortunately, this
ego-driven consciousness is often also responsible
for their lack of personal fulllment. The upper
class tends to believe the key to fulllment is to gain
greater success, and they are bafed when this formula doesn’t work. The upper class
is operating out of fear, and this mindset says revenge on the so-called guilty party will
give them satisfaction. Of course, it doesn’t. Amateurs also look for ego gratication in
revenge. Their ego has been hurt, and they believe hitting back will repair the damage and
allow them to save face. The cycle keeps repeating itself and delivers nothing but misery.
The world class, operating out of love and abundance, dismisses revenge as a strategy for
people operating at lower-level awareness. The great ones know you can’t ght hate with
hate. The only power in the universe worth projecting is the power of love. The pros know
if they are cheated by an amateur, it’s to be expected, because amateurs act out of fear.
Their fear-based consciousness thinks irrationally, so their improper or unethical acts are
to be expected. Champions feel empathy for amateurs, because all of the great ones are
former amateurs themselves.
“The middle class broods and
vows revenge when they feel
cheated. The upper class
attacks their abusers, intent
on inicting pain. The world
class forgives their enemies
and sends them love, because
the emotional pro knows that
the emotional amateur knows
not.”
– Steve Siebold
138
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
139
Action Step for Today: Decide today to aban-
don any thoughts or plans of revenge. Don’t con-
fuse forgiveness with weakness; anyone can hold
a grudge. It takes a person operating at a higher
level of awareness to forgive. Be reminded that
95% of the population is operating out of a con-
sciousness of fear and scarcity, which is probably
the reason this individual cheated you.
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
140
Champions Keep Things
In Perspective
A
mateur performers often crack under pres-
sure because they lose their perspective. Their
fear of losing overwhelms them to the point
of physical, emotional and spiritual breakdown. The
champion knows that the secret to performing well
under pressure has more to do with their perception of
the event than the event itself. While the amateur is
telling himself that he must win, the pro is reminding
herself that it’s only a game. Both performers want to
win, but the pro always outperforms the amateur under pressure because she has learned
how to calm her nerves by putting things in perspective. Some people claim that champions
perform better than any other group under pressure. This is not true. There is an inverse
relationship between pressure and performance, no matter who you are or what you do. As
pressure increases, performance decreases. This occurs whether you’re Donald Trump or
Donald Duck. The reason champions get better results is because they have trained them-
selves how to perceive the so-called pressure situation. The amateur perceives it as a threat,
which triggers a ght or ight response from the mind and body. Physiologically speaking,
the performer believes he is literally ghting for his life. Meanwhile, the pro has convinced
herself that this situation is just a game, and that nobody dies from losing a game. This
championship self-talk can be learned and implemented by anyone, but is rarely picked
up on by amateurs. The world class has learned that developing and maintaining a crystal-
clear perspective on the relative signicance of their performance lives is critical to their
success.
“In most situations, we don’t
need to slow down, we need
to calm down.”
– Bob Proctor,
author, speaker
Action Step for Today: List the three events that cause you
the most stress on a regular basis. Now ask this critical think-
ing question: “What would I need to say to myself on a daily
basis to put these events in proper perspective to reduce or
eliminate the stress they have caused me in the past?”
World-Class Resource: Read Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff, by
Richard Carlson. This book will inspire you to believe that “It’s all
small stuff!”
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
The World Class Raises
Their Rate Of Vibration At Will
T
he average performer spends little time
analyzing her own performance. Once
she reaches a level of competence that
satises her job requirements, ongoing analysis
and improvement are no longer a priority. The
world class is constantly analyzing, critiquing,
and giving themselves feedback. One of the
things a professional performer pays close atten-
tion to is her level of attraction to other people,
especially prospects and customers. At Mental
Toughness University, we call it Rate of Vibra-
tion, or ROV. The concept of ROV is simple: it’s
a combination of the mental and physical energy
being projected from one person to another. You might call it charisma in action. The ve
components of ROV are energy, enthusiasm, condence, belief and clarity. The sum total
of these components is your ROV. At Mental Toughness University, we ask our sales and
management clients to track their ROV on a scale of one to one thousand before and after
every sales call or coaching session. The purpose is to convince the performer a high ROV
creates greater attraction and response from the prospect or customer. Then, we show them
how to raise their ROV in seconds. Professional performers have been using this concept
for years. (It falls under various names.) The bottom line: the pro always contemplates
what she thinks about in performance situations, and implementing strategies and tech-
niques such as ROV creates better results. No matter where she is in her career, a cham-
pion is borderline obsessed with improving. She continues to learn new ideas and ways of
improving her performance. Meanwhile, the middle-class performer is still doing things
the way she was twenty years ago. The difference is more about consciousness than any-
thing else.
“Ladies, do you want to know
how to take a one-carat diamond
and turn it into a two-and-a-half-
carat diamond? Learn how to
raise your ROV.”
– Polly Bauer,
former president/CEO
of Home Shopping
Network Credit Corporation
141
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
World-Class Resource: Read The Power
of Your Subconscious Mind, by Joseph
Murphy, Ph.D.
142
Action Step for Today: Develop the habit of tracking your ROV
during presentations and other times you are attempting to per-
suade people to your point of view. On a scale of 1 to 1,000, the
average salesperson scores around 250. Top salespeople score
around 750. The goal is to get as close to the 1,000 mark as pos-
sible. All scores are subjective, but the purpose of the exercise is to
recognize the impact raising your ROV has on your ability to inu-
ence and persuade other people.
R.O.V.
RAT E O F VI B R AT I O N
ENERGY
ENTHUSIASM
CONFIDENCE
BELIEF
CL ARIT Y
1 -1,000 Scale
VI SI O N , PU R P O S E , PAY O F F
(SIG N I F I CA N C E )
Average Performer’s
R.O.V. = 250
Top 1% of Performer’s
R.O.V. = 750
Your R.O.V. =
SE LF , PR OD U C T , R E S U LT S
PR OD U C T , SE L F , CU S T O M ER ,
CO MPA N Y
PR OD U C T , C U S T O M E R , S E L F
ME NTA L , PHY S I C A L , SP I R I T U A L
Taking Your
Emotional
Temperature
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
The Pros Reward Themselves
For Execution
T
he masses tend to ignore the concept of creat-
ing a reward system to compliment their goal
setting – those who actually set goals, that is.
Professional performers use rewards to create ongo-
ing motivation for themselves and others. Amateurs
use rewards for themselves and their subordinates for
achieving results. Sounds like a good concept, doesn’t
it? While it’s not a bad idea, champions have a much
better system. Champions set execution-based goals
over which they have total control. The results they
are aiming for, but don’t have complete control over,
are known as Targets. The great ones aim for their Tar-
gets but focus on their goals. For example, salespeople
set a goal to make a certain number of calls. If they
fail to make that number of calls, they fail to reach the
goal. They are reprimanded and possibly penalized. If
they accomplish the number of calls, they automati-
cally earn the reward, no matter the outcome of those
calls. That’s execution-based goal setting. The philos-
ophy is simple: reward people for doing what they say they are going to do, based on
activities they can control. To reward someone for increasing sales, market share, or any
outcome-based goal is a reward for something they only played a part in achieving, and
they are being penalized under the same criteria. It only makes partial sense, and it can
destroy the motivation of the performer. Rewarding execution-based performance is the
wave of the future, because it’s a much more accurate award, actually deserved. The pri-
ority is still set on bottom-line results, but the focus is toward high-quality, consistent
execution. Reward performers for keeping their word and you build a success cycle of
condence and enthusiasm.
“The goals, targets and
rewards system is the
wave of the future. Goals
are execution-based; tar-
gets are results-based;
and rewards are based on
the successful completion
of the goals, not the tar-
gets. This subtle shift in
performance philosophy
has the power to launch
a performer from mid-
dle-class to world-class
results.”
– Steve Siebold
143
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
Action Step for Today: Take your number
one goal for the next ninety days and con-
vert it to a target. Next, make a list of every
activity you must complete to attain your
target. Lastly, think of a reward for yourself
upon successful completion of the goal. I
would strongly suggest converting all your
current goals to targets over the next thirty
days. After you get in the habit of this inno-
vative approach, you’ll be amazed at how
much more motivated you will be to suc-
ceed.
144
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
Great Leaders
Understand Recognition
A
verage performers tend to believe money and material possessions are their great-
est motivators, yet I haven’t seen a single study that backs this up. Amateurs don’t
know themselves as well as they might think. The human mind is a complex com-
puter with deep recesses that must be fully explored if we are to truly know ourselves and
what drives us. The only way this can be achieved is through extensive introspection. This
is one of the reasons some performers visit therapists and counselors when they are not
really in need of serious attention. It gives them a sounding board, an opportunity to
have someone listen and ask intelligent, probing, introspective questions no one has ever
asked them before. Ask a counselor how many people visit each week for this reason
– you might be surprised. World-class per-
formers know themselves, and they know
what drives them. The single most popular
motivator for performers of all classes is rec-
ognition, even though many people won’t
admit it. Human beings are emotional crea-
tures who may be embarrassed by the fact
that they are not entirely logical. It’s almost
as though logic has more credibility . . . except with the world class. They will tell you
they are highly motivated by recognition. Recognition is the master motivator because it
validates us to ourselves, and reminds us that we really are good enough, smart enough
and competent enough. Most people are walking around with an inferiority complex of one
kind or another from years of negative programming from parents, teachers, coaches and
other amateurs of great inuence. This programming can be overcome, but recognition will
always be a mental massage for a bruised psyche. Champions know and embrace this with
themselves and their charges, while the amateurs struggle to become more logical.
“I have discovered a fascinating thing:
men will die for ribbons.”
– Napoleon,
1769-1821, emperor of France
145
Action Step for Today: Set a goal to recognize
the important people in your life for the things they
do. Words of recognition are long remembered
and highly treasured. Developing this habit may
do more to solidify and grow your key relation-
ships than anything else.
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
World-Class Resource: If you manage
or employ people, get a copy of 1001
Ways to Reward Employees, by Bob
Nelson. This creative book is loaded with
ideas on how to recognize and reward
people for superior performance.
146
#1
#1
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
Champions Know
The Power Of Programming
T
he majority of champions I’ve worked
with and coached during the years
confess the bulk of the mental pro-
gramming they received during their child-
hoods was substandard. Many are quick to
add that the people who programmed them
– parents, teachers, coaches, ministers and
adults of inuence – were doing the best
they could, based on their level of awareness
at the time. It’s easy to criticize in hind-
sight, yet champions don’t feel the need to
do this. They want to take control of their
own reprogramming process and install the
habits, philosophies, traits and beliefs that
empower, rather than limit them. Middle-
class performers scoff at things like repro-
gramming and tend to hold on to what they were taught, no matter how poor their teachers’
thinking. The pros use two primary methods of reprogramming. First and foremost, they
alter the language they use when they talk to themselves and others. They adjust their
language from the middle-class to the world-class level. They create self-talk scripts and
repeat them daily until the change takes place. The second thing they do is use the power
of mental pictures, or visualization training, to adjust how they experience events. The
combination of these two change processes has a powerful effect on the mindset of the
performer. Sadly, the concepts are so simple that most people miss them. Meanwhile, the
great ones keep getting stronger and stronger by developing world-class thoughts, feelings
and attitudes through the reprogramming process.
“The programming that you accept
from others, and the conscious
and unconscious directives, pic-
tures, feelings and thoughts that
you transmit to yourself, will nd
a place in your own internal con-
trol center. Together, those thoughts
and images will continue to create
in advance, or inuence on the spot,
every response, attitude, and action
that will be a part of you and your
future.”
– Dr. Shad Helmstetter, author
147
Action Step for Today: Make the decision today
to take responsibility for old programming that
does not serve you. Practice reprogramming your
old programs by altering your language and using
visualization training.
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
World-Class Resource: Pick up a copy
of The Self-Talk Solution, by Dr. Shad
Helmstetter. This book contains more than
2,500 self-talk programming messages of
the world class. Dr. Helmstetter is the
genius of the self-talk revolution. I’ve been
studying his work since 1986, and it’s
changed my life immeasurably.
148
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
Champions Are Of Good Cheer
A
mateurs inadvertently create their own
mediocrity by the thoughts they entertain.
Professional performers consciously create
world-class results by carefully constructing every
thought. The foundation of this philosophy seems to
begin with a sunny disposition. In other words, the
world class is of good cheer by conscious choice.
The great ones are acutely aware their thoughts
create their circumstances, while the masses con-
tinue to reverse the equation. Is the world class
so happy because their lives are so fullling; or
are their lives so fullling because they are happy?
Champions know that their inner world determines
their outer world. Knowing this, they act the part of
the successful, fullled and happy person until the part becomes them. They have learned
that, in order to attract extraordinary success, fulllment and happiness, they must rst
become these things. The great ones have a saying about this: “Whatever you are looking
for is looking for you.” It’s a well-known law of the universe that like attracts like, success
breeds success, and happiness manifests happiness. While the middle class waits to win the
lottery, graduate from school, get a job, or any number of things before they decide to be
happy, they attract feelings of longing and lack. This doesn’t occur by accident. We don’t
attract what we want; we attract what we are. This is why the world class chooses to be of
good cheer.
“If you want to live a long,
healthy, and prosperous life,
make a commitment to your-
self to always be of good cheer.
It will affect everything and
everyone around you.”
– Bill Gove,
1912-2001, the father of
professional speaking
Action Step for Today: Make the decision every
morning to have a sunny disposition. Watch care-
fully and study how many others you attract with the
same good cheer.
149
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
World-Class Resource: Get
An Attitude of Gratitude: 21
Life Lessons, by Keith Har-
rell. When it comes to being
of good cheer, Keith Harrell is
the master. I own every book,
tape and CD album he’s ever
produced. No wonder he is
called “Dr. Attitude.”
150
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
151
The Great Ones
Are Learning Machines
F
or most people in modern western culture,
learning means memorizing facts, theories, the-
orems and dates. That’s what most of us were
taught to do in school. To average people, learning is
a late-night cram session and a pot of coffee to stay
awake. Professional performers have overcome this
outdated, industrial-age system and created a formula
for learning and developing their minds. As speaker
Jim Rohn says, “Formal education will make you a
living; self-education will make you a fortune.” The
pros know this to be accurate, and invest heavily in
books, tapes, and CD programs on everything from personal development to business
sales, marketing and management. They read and study trade journals and become world-
renowned experts. Average people spend less than ten dollars annually on books. The top
1% of income earners in America invest nearly $10,000 annually on books and other learn-
ing resources. They attend seminars, workshops and retreats. Amateur performers look at
these investments as a waste of time and money. They are more likely to invest their money
in lottery tickets, satellite television, cigarettes, alcohol, and other forms of entertainment.
The great ones, in the words of scientic genius Buckminster Fuller, “Dare to be naïve.”
The middle class thinks they have little left to learn. World-class performers know the more
they learn, the greater the level of awareness they reach; and the greater the level of aware-
ness, the more they realize how much more there is left to learn. The great ones know learn-
ing, like love, is innite. There is no end until their hearts stop beating.
Action Step for Today: Make a commitment to develop your own self-
education program. Read, listen, and attend seminars and workshops.
Set a goal to read a certain number of books and listen to a set number
of CDs each month. This shift in lifestyle will catapult your career and
your consciousness.
“An organization’s ability
to learn, and translate that
learning into action rapidly,
is the ultimate competitive
business advantage.”
– Jack Welch,
former chairman and
CEO, General Electric
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
World-Class Resource:
Invest in a copy of Lead
the Field, by Earl Night-
ingale. This album was
recorded in 1960, and its
message is timeless. It’s a
6-cassette/CD album that
deserves a place in your
personal library. You can
nd out more about it at
www.nightingale.com
152
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
Champions Change
Their Emotional Responses
O
ne of the most powerful tools used by world-class performers is called the Ten-
Step Change Process. It helps alter the way they respond to events outside their
control. For example, a salesperson makes a presentation to a customer who treats
the salesperson poorly and disrespectfully. The emotional response of amateurs would
be anger. The pro realizes treating people disrespectfully is classic amateur behavior.
Through the Ten-Step Change Process, the performer writes down the activating event
(the disrespectful customer). Next, he writes down
his response. Then he decides if that response is help-
ing or hurting. The next step is to decide whether his
response was rational or irrational. Next, he examines
his thought process thoroughly, and identies his ulti-
mate response if this were to happen again. He then
mentally rehearses implementing the new response.
Next, he creates a written script of the new response,
and rehearses the new response twice a day, visually
and verbally. He examines his response the next time
the event occurs. If he is satised with the result, he has successfully transformed his
response to this event. If he’s not yet satised, he continues the process until the desired
behavior change takes place. This is one of the most effective change processes of the
world class. Knowing it is worthless unless you use it. Are you ready to go pro yet? Imag-
ine the potential if you could alter every major response that you encountered on a daily
basis. Would that elevate you to the next level?
“It’s not the event itself that
does us in, it’s how we per-
ceive it.”
– Dr. Karl Menninger,
psychiatrist, author
Action Step for Today: Select one event that triggers a negative
emotional response and put it through the Ten-Step Change Pro-
cess. For example, do you get angry when someone cuts you off
in trafc, or when people treat you disrespectfully, or when your
son or daughter gets a poor grade on a report card? Our habitual
responses are based on our perceptions of what these events mean
and our perceptions can be altered or even totally changed in a very
short period of time through reprogramming. Give yourself twenty-
one to thirty days to make the transformation.
153
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
154
THE 10 STEPS TO POSITIVE CHANGE
If you are satised with your new
perception/response, you have suc-
cessfully constructed a new neural
pathway and created a positive
change in your life. If you’re not satis-
ed, continue visualizing and verbal-
izing your new perception/response
and test until positive change occurs.
You respond to your
perception of an event.
# 1
Decide if your response is
helping or hurting you.
# 2
Decide if your response is
rational or irrational.
# 3
Examine your response in detail through meta-
cognition. (Think about what you think about)
# 4
Identify your ultimate response if
this situation were to occur again.
# 5
Create a mental rehearsal of your
ideal response.
# 6
Rehearse your ideal visual
and verbal responses twice a day.
# 8
# 7
W
rite a script that supports
your ideal response.
Examine your response the next
time this or a similar event
occurs.
# 9
# 10
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
World-Class Resource: For further study of creating change
through emotional control, visit www.rebt.org This website
belongs to Dr. Albert Ellis, who pioneered Rational-Emotive
Behavior Therapy. The site offers free information as well as
additional resources on related topics.
Client treats me like dirt, ignores me and
makes me feel insignicant. It makes me
angry and I want to tell him off. Who does he
think he is? I feel frustrated and mad.
It’s hurting me because it puts me in a bad
mood.
Rational - he acted like a jerk!
I’m thinking to myself, “I’m only trying to do
my job, he could at least be decent to me,
after all, I’m a professional, too”.
Don’t let it bother me, because he’s just a
fallible human being, just like me. He just
doesn’t have the people skills that I do. He’s
under pressure and he’s taking it out on me.
His response has nothing to do with me. All I
need to focus on is my part of the equation -
That’s all I can control.
I see myself responding calmly and quietly -
and reminding myself that this person is an
emotional amateur.
I’m cool, calm and collected both inside and
out, no matter what. I do this because its the
best thing I can do for me.
Rehearse mentally and verbally before I walk
into the prospect’s ofce.
If you are satised with your new perception/
response, you have successfully constructed
a new neural pathway and created a positive
change in your life. If you’re not satised, continue
visualizing and verbalizing your new perception/
response and test until positive change occurs.
You respond to your
perception of an event.
# 1
Decide if your response is
helping or hurting you.
# 2
Decide if your response is
rational or irrational.
# 3
Examine your response in detail
through meta-cognition.
(Think about what you think about)
# 4
Identify your ultimate response if
this situation were to occur again.
# 5
Create a mental rehearsal of your
ideal response.
# 6
Rehearse your ideal visual
and verbal responses twice a day.
# 8
# 7
W
rite a script that supports
your ideal response.
Examine your response the next
time this or a similar event
occurs.
# 9
# 10
THE 10 STEPS TO POSITIVE CHANGE
EXAMPLE
155
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
The Great Ones Have
A Sense Of Urgency
M
iddle-class performers operate like there is
an endless amount of time in a day, week,
month, year and life. The world class is
extremely sensitive to time. The great ones have a
sense of urgency because they are operating at a level
of awareness that constantly reminds them the pres-
ent moment is all any of us really have. The world
class is on a mission to fulll a dream, and they know
the clock is ticking. The only time amateur perform-
ers develop a sense of urgency is toward the end of
the day, week, or before they go on vacation. Imagine
if they channeled that same energy, enthusiasm and focus into their everyday performance.
Worldwide productivity would probably triple in one day. Professional performers con-
stantly remind themselves that life is short and if they are going to make something happen,
now is the time. This thought process makes the middle class uncomfortable. Remember,
they prefer to operate in a state of mild delusion. Knowing the clock is ticking and none
of us know how much time we have left is too uncomfortable for emotional amateurs. For
pros, who operate from objective reality, it’s a primary motivating force. It’s one of the
reasons the great ones tend to pursue large, magnicent visions. They know their time on
earth is limited and they want to leave a legacy. Their sense of urgency goes back to the
beginning of the mental toughness process – clearly dening what you want. What do you
have a sense of urgency to do? If you know the answer, you can implement this world-
class philosophy immediately. If not, make it your mission to discover the embers that burn
within your soul and focus that passion on what you really want. Don’t stop until you nd
it. When you do, create a sense of urgency to act on it now. Don’t hesitate. Pursue your
dream boldly and fearlessly. It may be later than you think.
“One realizes the full
importance of time only
when there is little of it left.
Every man’s greatest capital
asset is his unexpired years
of productive life.”
– P.W. Litcheld
156
Action Step for Today: To heighten your sense of urgency, do a little
mathematical calculation. Based on statistics, the average man living in
21st century America will live seventy-three years. The average woman
will live seventy-nine years. Based on your current age and these statis-
tics, how many days do you have left to live? Keep this number in front
of you as a reminder the clock is ticking and there is no time to lose.
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
157
HOW MANY DAYS DO YOU HAVE LEFT IF
YOU LIVE THE AVERAGE LIFE SPAN?
The Average Man Lives 73 Years
The Average Woman Lives 79 Years
20 21,535
21 21,170
22 20,805
23 20,440
24 20,075
25 19,710
26 19,345
27 18,980
28 18,615
29 18,250
30 17,885
31 17,520
32 17,155
33 16,790
34 16,425
35 16,060
36 15,695
37 15,330
38 14,965
39 14,600
40 14,235
41 13,870
42 13,505
43 13,140
44 12,775
45 12,410
46 12,045
47 11,680
48 11,315
49 10,950
50 10,585
51 10,220
52 9,855
53 9,490
54 9,125
55 8,760
56 8,395
57 8,030
58 7,665
59 7,300
60 6,935
61 6,570
62 6,205
63 5,840
64 5,475
65 5,110
66 4,745
67 4,380
68 4,015
69 3,650
70 3,285
71 2,920
72 2,555
73 2,190
74 1,825
75 1,460
76 1,095
77 730
78 365
79 0
80 +/-365
81 +/-730
82 +/-1,095
83 +/-1,460
84 +/-1,825
85 +/-2,190
20 19,345
21 18,980
22 18,615
23 18,250
24 17,885
25 17,520
26 17,155
27 16,790
28 16,425
29 16,060
30 16,060
31 15,695
32 14,965
33 14,600
34 14,235
35 13,870
36 13,505
37 13,140
38 12,775
39 12,410
40 12,045
41 11,680
42 11,315
43 10,950
44 10,585
45 10,220
46 9,855
47 9,490
48 9,125
49 8,760
50 8,395
51 8,030
52 7,665
53 7,300
54 6,935
55 6,570
56 6,205
57 5,840
58 5,475
59 5,110
60 4,745
61 4,380
62 4,015
63 3,650
64 3,285
65 2,920
66 2,555
67 2,190
68 1,825
69 1,460
70 1,095
71 730
72 365
73 0
74 +/-365
75 +/-730
76 +/-1,095
77 +/-1,460
78 +/-1,825
79 +/-2,190
80 +/-2,555
81 +/-2,920
82 +/-3,285
83 +/-3,650
84 +/-4,015
85 +/-4,380
WOMAN’S
AGE:
DAYS
LEFT
WOMAN’S
AGE:
DAYS
LEFT
MAN’S
AGE:
DAYS
LEFT
MAN’S
AGE:
DAYS
LEFT
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
The World Class Believes
In Servant Leadership
T
he world class sees themselves as servants in
their personal and professional lives. What-
ever their chosen eld, the great ones know the
essence of success and fulllment can be found in the
service of others. Professional performers understand
that amateurs suffer the consequences of living out of
a fear-based consciousness. Most pros are recovering
amateurs who woke up one day and made a decision
to change. They empathize with the amateur mindset and do everything they can to lead
them to the next level of consciousness. Champions believe the greatest leaders are the
greatest servants, and that all of us are here to lend a hand to one another. In order to
embrace this mindset and become a conduit for positive change, a person must be operating
from spirit, as opposed to ego. Champions serve without asking or expecting anything in
return. Of course, in accordance with the law of cause and effect, they are richly rewarded
for their efforts. The middle-class consciousness is not operating at a level high enough to
see this law in action. When we were kids, most of us learned the saying, “The more you
give, the more you get.” Somewhere along the way, many of us have forgotten this piece
of ancient wisdom. As a result, amateurs are always seeing how much they can get without
having to give. On the other hand, the world class continues to give out of love and activate
this law. The law is the same for everyone, yet amateurs don’t believe in it. They are afraid
they will serve someone without getting anything in return, and they are afraid they’ll
get hurt again. Fear draws them inside themselves and reinforces their amateur behavior.
Meanwhile, the world class is humbly serving society and being handsomely rewarded.
“The measure of a man
is . . . in the number of
people who he serves.”
– Paul D. Moody
Action Step for Today: Examine your beliefs
about serving others, and ask this critical think-
ing question: “What do my habits, actions and
behaviors say about my belief in the law of cause
and effect?” On a scale of 1 to 7, 7 being the
highest, how much do you really give to others?
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177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
World-Class Resource: Read Lead-
ership: The Inner Side of Greatness,
by Peter Koestenbaum.
159
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
The Great Ones Make
The Complicated Simple
T
he middle-class consciousness seems to
have a belief that the more complicated
something sounds, the more impressive it
is. The world class tends to have the opposite
belief. They know even the most complex ideas,
philosophies, or systems can be broken down into
simple concepts. Albert Einstein’s theory of rela-
tivity is one of the greatest discoveries of the 20th
century, and even scientists agree the formula is complex. Einstein disagreed. Explaining
the basic theory to a non-scientist one day, he said; “Have you ever spent time with a pretty
girl and the time just ew by? Have you ever spent time with someone you didn’t like and
the time seemed to drag on forever? That’s relativity.” The great ones know true genius
rests in the simplication of what appear to be complex processes. Amateurs are convinced
success has to be more than the simple implementation of a few dozen key ideas, habits,
thought processes and philosophies. Amateurs make the success process more complex
than it is. Large corporations are made up of a series of complex systems, but every great
business leader will tell you 90% of all business problems can be solved by increased sales.
Champions constantly try to simplify their thoughts and ideas. Mental clarity is the corner-
stone of everything they do, and simplifying things promotes greater clarity.
“Genius is the ability to reduce
the complicated to the simple.”
– C.W. Ceram,
Roman archeologist, author
Action Step for Today: Do a breakdown to dis-
cover the essence of what motivates, inspires
and drives you, and most importantly, what
makes you happy. Reduce these ideas to as
few words as possible, so a fourth grader could
understand what you’re saying. This exercise
will elevate your level of mental clarity.
160
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
Champions Understand Success
S
uccess, to average performers, means money
and material possessions. To champions, these
are outward manifestations of success, but not
success itself. The pros know success is a simple con-
cept. Champions tend to believe success is giving
your family, work and life your very best effort, and
that’s it. End of denition. After all, the champions
say, what else is there? No idea has been so maligned
and manipulated as success. Amateurs will have you
believe success is what Madison Avenue tells us it is through slick advertising campaigns.
The great advertisers know people hunger for success, and they represent it as owning the
right home, car, clothes, etc. They have obviously studied their customer, and are being
richly rewarded for their service. The world class doesn’t buy into psychographic advertis-
ing or anything else the proteers say represents success. The great ones simply select their
chosen eld, write out their plan, create their vision, and go to work making it a reality. The
simple day-by-day progression toward their vision spells success. When their outcome is
achieved, they celebrate, all the while knowing their real measure of success was in doing,
not having. The world class understands that to have, you must do, and to do, you must
be. They focus on becoming the person they wish to become, and everything else falls into
place.
“If a man has done his best,
what else is there?”
– Gen. George S. Patton,
1885-1945, U.S. Army
Action Step for Today: Take inven-
tory of your beliefs surrounding suc-
cess. What does success really
mean to you? Have you adopted
the amateur or the professional def-
inition of success? How are these
beliefs impacting your everyday life
and happiness?
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177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
Champions Thrive
On World Class Self-Talk
S
elf-talk is what we say to ourselves all day long,
yet it’s also how we say it. For years, philosophers,
psychologists and performance experts worldwide
have known about the impact self-talk has on us. That
being said, average performers are oblivious to what they
are saying to themselves and how it’s affecting the qual-
ity of their lives. The pros have always been aware of the
power of language in programming and reprogramming
the human computer. Dr. Shad Helmstetter, in his magni-
cent book, What to Say When You Talk to Yourself, writes that up to 77% of the average
person’s self-talk is negative. According to Dr. Helmstetter, we spend our lives talking
ourselves into and out of things. Champions believe and embrace this idea. As a matter
of fact, the easiest way to know you’re in the presence of champions is to listen to them.
The world class has spent years overcoming poor programming, and this process usually
begins with the use of language, both with themselves and others. The great ones believe
almost anything is possible, simply because they have repeated that idea – and others like it
– to themselves for years. To quote Dr. Helmstetter, “Repetition is a convincing argument.”
Developing world-class self-talk may be the most powerful of all of the mental toughness
secrets of the great ones. Like most of the habits, traits and philosophies in this book, it’s
so simple that it’s often overlooked. As a result, amateur performers continue to perpetu-
ate amateur language with themselves and others. Meanwhile, the great ones create ideas
out of thin air, convince themselves achievement is possible, and then go out and make it
happen.
“Repeat anything long
enough and it will start
to become you.”
– Tom Hopkins,
author, speaker
Action Step for Today: Begin monitoring every-
thing you say to yourself and others. Ask this
critical thinking question: “Is the way I use the
language programming me for success or fail-
ure?” Next, begin listening to the way people
around you use the language. Ask yourself the
same question about them. This is an eye-open-
ing experience.
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177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
World-Class Resource: Visit
www.shadhelmstetter.com and
invest in Dr. Shad Helmstetter’s
Self -Talk CDs. I listen to them
every morning as I’m getting
ready for work, and all day long
in the background in my ofce.
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177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
The Great Ones Know
Salespeople Drive All Business
A
merica boasts more than fteen million salespeople, yet the image of salespeople
among the amateur community is weak. The masses tend to look down at sales-
people as hucksters and smooth talkers. The championship community, on the
other hand, embraces and admires salespeople. They see them as the driving force of the
global economy. Salespeople are the athletes of the business world. They drive production,
manufacturing, research and development, management and just about every other sector
of our society. In reality, there are only two kinds of
jobs: sales and sales support. The average salesper-
son is keeping thirty-three people employed, in some
form or another, based on his production. What other
profession even comes close? The world class knows
we are all salespeople. All of us are trying to sell
our ideas, ourselves and our passions to other people.
Selling is the natural order of human existence, and
mentally tough performers hold the highest respect
for professional salespeople. Salespeople are in the
line of re daily, making things happen and keeping
the economy rolling along. They don’t get the public
accolades of the doctor, accountant, lawyer or banker,
except from the champions. There’s a kinship between them that can be explained by one
word: respect.
“We are all salespeople,
every day of our lives. We
are selling our ideas, our
plans, our enthusiasms to
those with whom we come
in contact.”
– Charles Schwab,
former,
CEO Bethlehem Steel
164
Action Step for Today: Take stock of your attitude
toward salespeople and the sales profession in general,
whether you’re in sales or something else. In reality, we
are all salespeople, and your beliefs surrounding this
critical skill will determine how successful you will be.
World-Class Resource: Read
Changing the Game, The New
Way To Sell, by Larry Wilson.
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
Champions Know
Security Is A Perception
T
he endless quest for security is the plague of the middle-class level of conscious-
ness. Security is an illusion used to ease the late nights of worry and concern about
the future. The world class knows there are only two facts in which you can be
secure: all of us were born, and all of us will die. Everything that happens in between these
two dates is up for grabs. These realities invoke terror in the hearts of amateurs, but are
liberating to champions, because they are indisputable. It may not be comforting, but it’s
reality. One of the hallmarks of the great ones is their ability to deal in straightforward
and simple truths. Give it to them just as it is, without
any spin. This fullls their need to work from a point
of objective reality, so they can devise a solid plan of
action based on fact. Average performers cringe at the
thought of not having security, but instead of evolving
to a higher level of conscious awareness, most choose
to delude themselves into a false sense of security. It’s
no wonder amateurs are no match for pros – it’s not
even a level playing eld. Champions are motivated
by the idea that their security is in their ability to per-
form. The great ones live for challenge, and often they
love the battle for the prize more than the prize itself.
They love the battle because they expect to win, and
their positive expectation continues to grow with each subsequent victory. The world class
knows that, if any form of security exists in the universe, it is within their thoughts. They
are willing to court doubt and darkness along the road to enlightenment. Extrinsic things
like money will never make you feel secure unless you are secure on the inside; unless you
believe you have the ability to deal with whatever happens between your birthday and your
death day. If this world-class thought process exists, almost anything, from a teddy bear to
a million dollars, will enhance your feeling of security. If you don’t have it, a billion dol-
lars won’t make you feel secure. Security is simply a perception, and the great ones have
always known it.
“When you know you’re
capable of dealing with
whatever comes, you have
the only security that the
world has to offer.”
– Harry Browne,
investment advisor,
author
165
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
Action Step for Today:
Rate yourself on a scale
of 1 to 7, 7 being highest:
How condent are you in
your ability to successfully
handle anything that hap-
pens in your life? If you
scored less than a 6, begin
to build your condence by
upgrading your self-talk in
this area. Thirty days of
telling yourself that you
have the ability to handle
anything life throws you
will start you on the path
to world-class feelings of
security.
166
7
1
2
3
4
5
6
HIGHEST
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
The World Class
Believes In Self-Reliance
T
he middle-class consciousness tends to rely
on other people’s actions, opinions and behav-
iors. The world class learns to rely on them-
selves. They develop supreme self-condence and a
penchant for action. The philosophy of the world class
is to take full responsibility for their successes and
failures. Average performers want to blame everyone
for everything. The smoker who gets sick from smok-
ing wants to sue the tobacco company for his illness.
The fast-food junkie becomes obese from ingesting hundreds of cheeseburgers and pizzas
and blames the restaurants that served her. The poverty-, working- and middle-class levels
of consciousness often have a victim mentality. Professional performers take responsibility
for their decisions and exercise self-reliance. Maybe most importantly, champions don’t
look to other people to make them happy. The great ones know happiness is not something
you get, it’s something you are. While champions enjoy the company of others, they are
just as happy to be alone. Their core level of contentment begins with them.
“Follow your own path, no
matter what people say.”
– Karl Marx,
1818-1883, founder of
modern communism
Action Step for Today: Identify an area of your
life in which you rely on someone else. Next,
make a commitment to take full responsibility
for the results or outcomes you experience in
this area, regardless of whether you are directly
responsible. Start with your nances. Who is
responsible for your accumulation of wealth?
Your accountant? Banker? Broker? Financial
planner? You are ultimately responsible. If you
adopt this philosophy in every major area of
your life, you will never slip into the blame game
again.
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177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
World-Class Resource: Get a copy of Self-
Reliance and Other Essays by Ralph Waldo
Emerson. Emerson was clearly operating at
an elevated level of consciousness when he
wrote his essay on self-reliance. It’s a master-
piece that deserves a place in your personal
library.
168
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
The Great Ones Manufacture
Their Own Self-Image
I
t’s been said that self-image is the reputation we
have with ourselves. It’s also been said that most
of us suffer from some type of inferiority com-
plex. The world class has overcome this problem by
realizing everyone on the planet is inferior and supe-
rior to everyone in some way. They believe people
have multiple intelligences, depending on their per-
sonality styles and experiences. The artist might not
be the best mechanic. The mathematician might not
possess highly evolved creative faculties. Champions believe the question is not “Are you
smart?” but “How are you smart?” The difference in this interpretation of intelligence is
monumental. The self-image of the great ones is the foundation of their success. Champi-
ons have major-league credibility with themselves. This self-condence manifests itself in
various forms critical in their ascension to the world-class level. It affects the way they
approach business, life and other people. It determines the size and scope of the vision they
create for their lives. Champions believe almost anything is within their reach, based on
the power of their own self-image. The primary strategies the great ones use to develop
a powerful self-image are self-talk and mental imagery. While amateurs are talking them-
selves out of attempting large goals and expansive visions, the pros are talking themselves
into it. The difference doesn’t have anything to do with intelligence; it is programming the
champions create for themselves. The great ones manufacture their own self-image from
scratch – and so do the middle class.
“Self-esteem – high or low
– tends to be a generator of
self-fullling prophecies.”
– Dr. Nathaniel Branden,
psychologist, author
Action Step for Today: Ask this critical think-
ing question: “Do I have the self-image neces-
sary to manifest my ultimate vision for my life?”
If the answer is no, write down three world-class
afrmations about your vision that will help you
develop a world-class self-image.
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177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
World-Class Resource: Get a copy of The
Six Pillars of Self-Esteem, by Dr. Nathaniel
Branden. Dr. Branden was the protégé of
novelist and philosopher Ayn Rand, as well
as a pioneer in the self-esteem movement.
Six Pillars is his magnum opus. This book
will inspire you to examine your thought pro-
cesses in a whole new way.
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177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
Champions Are Bold
And Daring Visionaries
O
ne of the most important habits of the great
ones is the creation, nurturing and ongoing
psychological evolution of their life’s vision.
Generally speaking, the middle-class consciousness
is more involved in assisting world-class performers
in achieving their vision. Amateur performers are
aware of what vision is, but don’t believe in the con-
cept or themselves enough to create and manifest
their own visions. The middle-class consciousness
needs the emotional support of other people to make
their visions reality. This is where the world class
breaks away from the pack. The world-class con-
sciousness is so powerful it needs little, if any, out-
side support to maintain motivation and direction toward its vision. The great ones have
the condence and clarity to go it alone, if necessary. That said, professional performers
are the rst group to build mentor and support teams. The difference lies in their mental
strength and laser-like focus on their purpose and mission in life. Vision, to amateurs, is a
company’s statement on the rst page of its annual report. Vision, to pros, is a clearly writ-
ten, ten- to twenty-page (on average) double-spaced document they see as their personal
Declaration of Independence. It is the result of years of soul-searching and self-discovery.
It’s the reason they’re doing everything they do. They read it every day and think about it
all the time. All the great philosophers of the last two thousand years have agreed on at least
one thing: we become what we think about. Champions know this, so they think about their
vision all the time. This is the primary reason for the psychological separation between the
good and the great. Good performers turn off their vision when it’s quitting time. Great
performers never stop thinking about it. As a result, when the good and the great go head to
head, it’s a mismatch from the start. The great ones create their vision, and then their vision
creates them.
“Vision . . . it reaches beyond
the thing that is, into the
conception of what can be.
Imagination gives you the
picture. Vision gives you the
impulse to make the picture
your own.”
– Robert Collier,
1885-1950, author
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177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
Action Step for Today: Make a commitment
to create the ultimate vision for your life in
the next thirty days. Use these eight life com-
ponents as a guide: business/career; family/
friends, money/nances, recreation/fun, health/
diet/exercise, faith/spiritual, social/cultural, and
personal development. You can write these
visions as independent components, or include
all of them in one long vision. Use as much detail
as possible to dene what you want to be, have
and do in your life. The last step is the most
important: write about why you want these things
to manifest. Include as much emotion as possi-
ble. Describe the feelings you are trying to create
through the achievement of your vision.
World-Class Resource: Read Visioning: The
Ten Steps To Designing the Life of Your
Dreams, by Lucia Capacchione, Ph.D.
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177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
Champions Never Say Die
T
he middle class will persist until they become uncomfortable. The upper class will
persist until it becomes painful. The world class never says die. Champions are com-
fortable being uncomfortable, because they have grown so accustomed to risk that
feelings of vulnerability almost seem natural. Champions don’t even begin to pay atten-
tion until they feel pain, which they expect to
feel on a regular basis. Champion cyclist Lance
Armstrong says racing doesn’t even get interest-
ing until it becomes what he calls a “suffer-fest.”
Even the upper class cannot compete with the
world class because, while good performers have
a deep desire to win, the great ones are com-
mitted to winning. The distinction between the
two thought processes is substantial. Failure to
manifest the vision is not an option; champions
will do it or die trying. The mantra they love to
espouse is, “Whatever it takes.” The great ones
are masters of self-denial, suffering and sacrice.
They do it all to live their vision. If you’re going
to go up against the great ones, you better pack a lunch – it’s going to be a long afternoon.
“Never die easy. Why run out
of bounds and die easy? Make
that linebacker pay. It carries
into all facets of your life. It’s
okay to lose, to die, but don’t die
without trying, without giving it
your best.”
– Walter Payton,
1954-1999,
professional football player
Action Step for Today: Ask this critical thinking ques-
tion: “How committed am I to achieving my ultimate
vision?” Are you really willing to do whatever it takes?
If so, know you are on the right track. If not, chances
are you have settled for second best in your vision. It
doesn’t have sufcient emotional energy to motivate
you through the tough times that will undoubtedly
occur. If the latter is the case, do some soul searching
and rewrite your vision. Odds are that you will need
world-class emotional energy to bring your dream into
reality.
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177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
World-Class Resource: Go inside the mind
of one of the great champions as he ghts for
his life in Never Die Easy, by Walter Payton
with Don Yaeger. This is the autobiography of
one of the National Football League’s great-
est running backs, written in the midst of his
battle with cancer. This book is like a blue-
print on the thought processes, habits and
traits of champions. If you ever saw the man
they called “Sweetness” on the gridiron, this
book will leave an indelible impression on
your heart.
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177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
Champions Define Winning
As Personal Progress
T
o average performers, winning usually means
beating someone else. To the world class, win-
ning usually means besting their previous per-
formance. The upper class is more ego-driven and
competitive than the world class. The great ones have
evolved from an ego-driven consciousness to a spirit-
driven consciousness, which transcends their need to
be better than someone else. Champions know the
real game is you against you, a paradox only the
great ones fully comprehend. The world class has
come to the stark realization that life is not a level
playing eld, which makes true competition an illu-
sion. People seeking ego gratication perpetuate the
illusion of true and fair competition. Professional per-
formers are Zen-like in their approach to winning,
and tend to focus on execution-based performance
goals they can completely control. This keeps them in line with the reality that the only
parts of winning they can control are their personal effort and attitude. The great ones know
the most accurate indicators of winning are their ongoing growth and evolution as perform-
ers, and more importantly, as human beings.
“The most evolved among us
understand that winning is
an inside job. It’s not about
beating or besting someone
else, but rather getting the
best from ourselves. Win-
ning is about being better
tomorrow than you were
today.”
– Bill Gove,
1912-2001, the father of
professional speaking
Action Step for Today: Just for today, make a com-
mitment to transcend your ego-based desire to be
better than anyone else. Focus all of your competi-
tive efforts inward and see how much better you can
be today than you were yesterday. Monitor how this
elevated level of consciousness makes you feel. You
may decide to adopt this thought process as a habit,
and eventually, a belief that transcends the need to
beat anyone at anything.
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177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
World-Class Resource: Read Permission to
Win, by Ray Pelletier.
176
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
Champions Know Abundant Health
Begins With Body Weight
P
rofessional performers know the foundation of
good health is weight control. They know dis-
ease often begins when body weight is dispro-
portionate. Champions focus on diet and exercise to
manage their weight and overall health. They also
know the real secret to weight control is commit-
ment and mental toughness. The poverty, working,
and middle classes tend to believe the right diet is the
key to weight loss and control. The great ones realize
the best diet in the world is worthless without deci-
sion and commitment. They also know they are in
total control of what they eat and how they exercise,
and if they slip out of balance in this area they are
quick to get back on track. Taking control of weight
through conscious choice is a fast track to ascending to world-class levels in other areas
of your life. For those who wish to ascend to greatness, this is great place to begin. The
condence and power being thin and healthy will give you cannot be overestimated.
“A signicant step you can
take on the road to world-
class success and fulllment
is to get your body weight
under control. The con-
dence you will gain as a
result will carry over into
every other area of your
life.”
– Steve Siebold
Action Step for Today: Give yourself a
mental toughness reality check: Remove all
your clothes, stand in front of a full-length
mirror, and write a paragraph on what you
see. Next, ask this critical thinking question:
“What level of consciousness does my body
reect?” Is it: poverty class, working class,
middle class, upper class or world class?
177
World-Class Resource: To learn more about
mental toughness in the process of weight con-
trol, visit www.mentaltoughnessinstitute.com
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
The World Class
Seeks The Wisdom Of The Ages
A
verage performers tend to believe as long as they have acquired the necessary
knowledge to perform in their job, it’s no longer important to continue the
education/learning process. The great ones are the busiest people in the market-
place. They always search for the most effective and efcient methods of learning. One
favorite is reading and studying positive quotation books. These books are jam-packed
with wisdom from the most highly evolved thinkers
and performers. While most amateurs probably con-
sider positive quotations to be “cheesy,” the pros are
studying them like scientists and beneting from the
wisdom of the ages. These books contain pure gold,
and the champions know it. Amazingly, you can
nd these works sitting on discount racks at every
major bookstore in the world. Very few people buy
them. The masses are so focused on nding happi-
ness through pleasure that they miss the fact that
happiness is a byproduct of wisdom and self-discov-
ery. The answers are in these books, yet the masses
ignore them. This mindset is a microcosm which illustrates why the rich get richer and
the poor, poorer. Human beings cannot remain stagnant – we are either growing or dying.
We are either getting better or getting worse. The pros use quotation books as a method of
ensuring they are on the path of learning and growth.
“I nd television very educa-
tional. Every time someone
turns it on, I go in the other
room and read a book.”
– Groucho Marx,
1890-1977,
comedian, actor
Action Step for Today: Make a commitment
today to read at least ve positive quotations
every day for the rest of this year. The wisdom in
these quotes will motivate, inspire and enlighten
you.
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177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
World-Class Resource: My favorite quotation book
is The Best of Success, by Wynn Davis. This hard-
cover classic contains more than three hundred
pages of some of the greatest things ever said
about successful living. It’s a must for your personal
library. For a weekly success quote via e-mail, visit
www.championsmagazine.com and sign up for this
free service.
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177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
World-Class Employees See
Themselves As Self-Employed
M
ost people who are employed by a company
believe they work for someone else. Pro-
fessional performers know everyone works
for themselves. From the line worker on the factory
oor to the top brass of the executive team, everyone
is self-employed. Employees operating at the mid-
dle-class level of awareness tend to see themselves
as cogs in the wheel of the organizational hierarchy.
World-class employees see themselves as professional
performers who lease their services to the company
which employs them. This little distinction makes a
huge difference when it comes to results. Amateurs
feel enslaved; pros feel empowered. Amateurs feel
trapped; pros feel free. Everyone who works in a free-
market economy has the choice of where and to whom
they want to lease their services. The companies are
also free to hire or reject any free agent who applies.
All parties are free to choose. Champions know the
most signicant benet of being a professional per-
former is that they can write their own ticket. Every
organization on the planet is searching for world-class
performers. Only 5% of the population is at this level,
and a substantial percentage of those 5% are business
owners not available for hire. The great ones are doing
things with the mindset of being self-employed, regardless of who signs their paycheck.
“In a study done in New
York some years ago,
researchers found that
people who ranked in the
top three percent in every
eld had a special attitude
that set them apart from
average performers in their
industries. It was this: they
viewed themselves as self-
employed throughout their
careers, no matter who
signed their paychecks.
They saw themselves as
responsible for their com-
panies, exactly as if they
owned the companies per-
sonally.”
– Brian Tracy,
author, speaker
180
Action Step for Today: Decide to adopt the mindset of self-
employment. No matter what title you hold, you are now CEO
and president of your own personal services corporation.
Next, ask this critical thinking question: “Would I hire me?”
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
The Great Ones
Aren’t Afraid To Suffer
T
he world class knows success always comes
with a price tag. While the middle class wastes
their time searching for short cuts, the great
ones get in the game and endure the pain and suffer-
ing every champion must endure. There is no escape.
The road to victory is paved with blood, sweat and
tears. On their quest to go pro, champions are not sur-
prised when pain and suffering tags along. They see
it as part of the process. They understand, at the core
of their being, that championship mentality is a result
of hanging tough through adversity, and it cannot be
gained any other way. The mentally tough get tough
by ghting so many battles – some lost, some won –
that they eventually become great warriors. The pain
and suffering process is to mental toughness what
carbon is to steel. The middle class often sees taking
the easy way out as victory, but in reality, they are
robbing themselves of the exposure and experience
they need to become great. It’s the greatest tragedy of
the middle class. They are so close to a life of success
and fulllment, yet so far away due to their own self-
deception and unwillingness to meet life head on and
endure the necessary suffering. The middle class is in a never-ending negotiation for suc-
cess. The great ones know success and fulllment are non-negotiable.
“What makes a great endur-
ance athlete is the ability to
absorb potential embarrass-
ment, and to suffer without
complaint. I was discovering
that, if it was a matter of
gritting my teeth, not caring
how it looked, and outlasting
everybody else, I won. It
didn’t seem to matter what
the sport was – in a straight-
ahead, long-distance race, I
could beat anybody. If it was
a suffer-fest, I was good at
it.”
– Lance Armstrong,
cyclist, six-time
Tour de France champion
Action Step for Today: On a scale of 1 to 7, 7
being highest, how much are you willing to suffer to
make your ultimate vision a reality?
181
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
Champions Learn
From Role Models
O
ne of the best-kept secrets of the world class is their ability to use other people’s
thoughts, ideas, habits and traits as a way to accelerate their own journey to the
top. They are savvy enough to know none of us will live long enough to learn
all the wisdom of the world from our own experience. Instead, they choose role models
who are champions in their elds and learn everything they can from these people. They
approach their role models with a beginner’s mindset and a humble attitude. This tends to
be one of the biggest differences between the upper class and the world class: humility. The
upper class tends to be ego-driven and have a high need for wealth and power. Would-be
mentors and role models can easily be dissuaded from
helping brash, cocky performers with out-of-control
egos. The world class has supreme self-condence
only expressed in words to themselves. This inner
arrogance is rarely expressed outside their own self-
talk. The great ones are able to maintain a spirit of
humility and gratitude that spills over from the inside
out and covers them with a warm, loving glow. This
phenomenon rockets their Rate of Vibration (ROV)
to the world-class level. This creates a magnetic attraction others nd hard to resist. Role
models and mentors love to help performers with this mindset, and their guidance and
advice catapult performers years ahead of their ego-driven competition.
“Set a goal, not only to follow
world-class role models, but
to become a world-class role
model.”
– Steve Siebold
Action Step for Today: Identify the most important thing you are trying
to accomplish in the next ninety days, and select a role model who has
already done it. Learn everything you can about this person, but most of
all, their thought processes. When you have this information, pretend you
are your role model – with all the condence and self-assurance of some-
one who has already succeeded at the task you want to achieve. This
technique is the mental equivalent of Clark Kent going into the phone
booth and changing into Superman, and it’s a fairly common practice of
the world class when they’re searching for a strategic advantage – espe-
cially under pressure.
182
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
The World Class Believes
In The Power Of Self-Understanding
C
hampions are famous for knowing themselves
– the good, the bad, and the ugly. While aver-
age people choose to selectively view the
qualities, thought processes, habits and traits they
admire about themselves, the world class prefers a
three-dimensional picture. The great ones are masters
of self-discovery and personal objectivity because
they are always improving themselves. Their com-
mitment to excellence is unyielding, and their focus
would alarm average people. The pros often see
themselves as performance machines with the goal
of guring out what makes the machine run. When
a breakdown occurs, they want to know how to x
it fast and get back on track. The rst place this phi-
losophy shows up is in the work or career they select.
It’s rare to nd professional performers doing work
they don’t enjoy. The great ones invest time in self-introspection until they pinpoint where
their interests, talents and unique gifts lie. They know the foundation of world-class per-
formance is loving what you do. The secret is to select a job, career or business you would
enjoy, regardless of whether you were paid. The pros know this, and selecting the right
vocation is one of their most important tasks. In their personal life, this high level of self-
understanding also helps them nd and marry the right person. While average people are
seeking a mate who stimulates and excites their emotions, the world class is looking for a
partner who communicates and connects with their spirit. Many champions describe their
spouse as their “soul mate.” These are marriages that usually last through thick and thin.
On the other hand, when the emotional excitement dies down for amateurs, the relation-
ship loses its attraction. Studies show that 67% of the couples married since 1991 are now
divorced. People who have the same core values and see themselves as soul mates have a
difcult time being apart. These two examples – work and love – are direct results of the
differences in mindset. So, while the middle class is living lives of quiet desperation, the
great ones are reaping the rewards of their superior mental habits and philosophies.
“Ninety percent of the
world’s woe comes from
people not knowing them-
selves, their abilities, their
frailties, and even their real
virtues. Most of us go almost
all the way through life as
complete strangers to our-
selves – so how can we know
anyone else?”
– Sidney J. Harris,
newspaper columnist
183
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
Action Step for Today: Make a list of
your ve most important values and write
down why they are so important to you.
This simple exercise will get you started
down the road of self-understanding, or
accelerate the introspective journey you
have already begun.
184
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
The Great Ones Evolve
From Success to Significance
T
he masses chase success, and often nd it elu-
sive as a result of their limited belief system.
The few that break through typically make to
it the upper-class level of consciousness, where they
remain for the rest of their lives. The upper class is
driven by ego and power. While some of them build
nancial fortunes, they often suffer from a lack of
meaning and fulllment in their lives. This is evident
by the number of broken relationships many of them
experience. In an attempt to gain greater fulllment, this group is famous for throwing
money at their relationship problems and attempting to use their power to coerce their
friends and loved ones to their point of view. When this eventually fails, as it must, the
upper class doesn’t understand how they can be so successful professionally, but not per-
sonally. Their egocentric addiction renders them blind to the simple truth that fulllment
and happiness cannot be coerced or purchased. The few that make this discovery are jetti-
soned to the world class almost overnight, where they trade in their ego-based thoughts for
a spirit-lled consciousness. The upper class focuses on success; the world class focuses
on signicance. The great ones discover what fullls them rst and end up with success as
a byproduct. Their secret to a fullling life is often through servant leadership to a large
group of people who need their help. There is a direct correlation between their level of
fulllment and the magnitude of impact they have on the people they serve. In other words,
the more signicant the champions become in the lives of others, the more fulllment
they experience, and the more fulllment they experience, the more energy and effort
they invest in other people. The success formula is similar, but requires that the performer
help large numbers of people in order to reap large rewards. The irony is that many great
performers become successful without ever chasing success. Their journey to fulllment
through helping other people creates success by natural law. By focusing on becoming a
signicant person in the lives of others, they automatically gain the success that the masses
so desperately seek. Their world-class success and fulllment creates world-class happi-
ness. That’s why we call them the great ones.
“I never wanted to be a suc-
cessful person. I wanted to
be a signicant person.”
– Nido Qubein,
speaker, author,
philanthropist
185
Action Step for Today: Ask this critical thinking question: “Am
I focusing my energy on becoming successful or signicant?”
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
Champions Know Humor Is No Joke
T
he world class is famous for being the hardest work-
ing, hardest playing people on the planet. The upside
of their work ethic is success. The downside is stress.
This is why the great ones use humor to ease tension and
offer a fresh perspective on whatever challenge they may be
facing. Champions know the most potent antidote for stress
is levity. When the world watched in horror as former U.S.
president Ronald Reagan was shot in 1980, the rst words
the president uttered to his wife were: “Honey, I forgot to duck.” The collective tension of
an entire nation was instantly lowered by this humorous statement. Professional performers
know that humor is no joke when it comes to enhancing their ability to perform in pressure
situations. The impact of a simple laugh can make the difference between choking under
pressure and breaking a world record. Champions understand the power that humor has on
their mind, body and spirit. It’s a force for good that many amateurs overlook. While the
average performer sees humor as folly, the great ones see it as the ultimate, instant stress
reduction tool.
“Comedy makes the
human spirit soar.”
– Mel Brooks,
actor, director
Action Step for Today: Make a com-
mitment to develop a Top 10 Jokes List.
Research jokes on the internet, browse
for joke books in bookstores, and attend
a comedy show. Develop this list as a
mental toughness strategy to help you
reduce pressure in your everyday life.
World-Class Resource: Read Good
Clean Jokes, by Bob Philips.
186
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
187
The World Class
Is Character Conscious
“Be more concerned with
your character than your
reputation, because your
character is what you really
are, while your reputation
is merely what others think
you are.”
– John Wooden,
Hall of Fame basketball
coach, University of
California Los Angeles
W
orld-class performers, almost by denition,
have rock-solid character. These people
are self-reliant and strong, and often have
belief systems that reect their superior self-con-
dence. Champions take the high road and are known
to do what they say they will do. If champions are
your friends, you can count on them to show up when
things get tough. They won’t shy away from or be
afraid of adversity. They make deals with other cham-
pions on a handshake, and view it as a binding con-
tract. Their world view is that life is what you make it,
and the rest is how you take it. Character is what helps
world-class performers get through the tough times,
and what governs their mighty ambitions. Champions
will push only to the limits their character will allow. When their ambitions and drives
begin to adversely affect other people, champions pull back. Character is what separates
ambitious champions from ambitious criminals. It’s a small distinction that makes all the
difference in the world.
Action Step for Today: Make a commitment to always do
what you say you will do, no matter what it takes. Put your
commitment in writing. This philosophy separates you from
95% of the population, and will enhance all of your relation-
ships.
World-Class Resource: If
you have children, check out
www.charactercounts.org
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
The World Class
Builds On Support
W
hile many amateur thinkers believe it’s them against the world, professionals
rely on their emotional support teams to help them sustain focus through the
peaks and valleys of performance. Their support teams are made up of people
who love them unconditionally, no matter whether they are winning or losing. Champions
use mentor teams and coaches to push them to greater heights, and support teams to
help them recover emotionally when the going gets
tough and they become emotionally drained. Even the
toughest performers in the world need emotional sup-
port from time to time, and they tap this resource on a
regular basis to avoid the worst enemy of any great per-
former: burnout. Burnout is the brain’s way of telling
you it’s stressed and strained for the time being, and its
way of shutting you down is to rob you of any measure
of enthusiasm you ever had for the activity involved.
The only way to fully recover from mental burnout
is by getting away from the activity for an extended
period of time. In order to avoid burnout, the great ones
spend time with their families, friends and other sup-
port team members that help them recover before it occurs. The support team serves as the
champion’s physical, mental and spiritual oasis on their way to the top.
“Lots of people want to ride
with you in the limo, but
what you want is someone
who will take the bus with
you when the limo breaks
down.”
– Oprah Winfrey,
television personality
Action Step for Today: Make a list
of the people who love you uncondi-
tionally, and make a commitment to
speak with or visit them on a regular
basis.
188
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
Champions Have
A World Class Work Ethic
A
mateurs work just hard enough to escape
being red. Their belief system demands they
be compensated for every action they take on
the job. If they can be over-compensated, that’s even
better. The pros have the exact opposite belief. The
only way you’ll ever out-work one of the great ones
is to become one. They know there’s no such thing as
over-compensation, at least not in the long term. The
pros know that a free-economy marketplace will always correct itself. They also know the
marketplace will richly reward a world-class work ethic with an endless stream of oppor-
tunities. This work ethic is the reason so many immigrants come to the free world and
become millionaires. They remember where they came from and what it took to get them
to the land of the free. They’re so grateful for the opportunity to work hard that no one can
convince them to slow down. Nido Qubein, a Lebanese
immigrant, came to America with only a dream and a
world-class work ethic and built an empire. Immigrants
are four times as likely to become millionaires as Amer-
ican-born citizens. This startling statistic boils down to
one thing: a world-class work ethic.
“Amateurs hope; profes-
sionals work.”
– Garson Kanin,
1912-1999, writer
Action Step for Today:
On a scale of 1 to 7,
7 being highest, rate
your work ethic. If you
score less than a 5,
upgrade your commit-
ment to work.
World-Class Resource: Invest in a copy of Stair-
way to Success, by Nido Qubein. This book will take
you inside the mind of this magnicent entrepre-
neur. Visit www.nidoqubein.com
189
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
The World Class Dreams Of The
Future, Yet Lives In The Present
M
y late business partner, Bill Gove, once said,
“Steve, the only thing signicant about the
past is how it affects us in the present and
the future. It holds no power other than that.” The pov-
erty-, working-, and middle-class levels of conscious-
ness have a tendency to be xated on the past. Their
mindset is: “If only this or that would have happened
. . . If only I could have done this or that.” Amateurs
are always looking in the rear view mirror, wishing
things were different. Instead of learning from the les-
sons of their past, they assume a victim-based mindset
and tend to wallow in their sorrow. Playing the victim
gives the amateur an excuse for losing. The world class
rarely looks back to the past except when they’re feel-
ing nostalgic. The pros know the clock is running. The
great ones are acutely aware of their mortality. With
this mindset, the pro doesn’t have the time or inclination to look back. The great ones are
focused on “living in the now.” They leave living in the past to the amateurs.
Action Step for Today:
Let go of your past and
focus exclusively on the
present and the future.
“Your experience of yes-
terday should never set
your foundation of expec-
tation for what you can
accomplish in the future.
Yesterdays lessons are the
most effective fertilizer for
tomorrow’s victories.”
– John Terhune
CEO, Rainmaker
Consulting Services
190
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
W
orld-class performers are ruthless with their time. This behavior stems from
their awareness of their limited time on the planet. They view time as their
most valuable resource. As pros become more successful, they have to say “no”
more often. Additional projects, favors and various burdens threaten to eat away their time.
Amateurs tend to believe they have more time left than they actually do. The thought of
their mortality is too great a prospect to face squarely. Amateurs are masters in the art
of self-deception and psychological delusion. Reality is
too harsh for their fragile psyches to endure. The world
class is generous, yet highly selective, with their time.
They seldom feel guilty about saying “no,” even when
they are criticized by amateurs for being uncaring and
selsh. Champions operate from an internal frame of
reference and tend to value their own opinion above that
of others’. Amateurs see this as arrogance; pros see it as
self-condence. The middle class is highly vulnerable
to the opinions of others, and tend to say “yes” to any-
thing they are asked. This behavior suggests a generous spirit, but is more likely the mani-
festation of the amateur addiction to love and acceptance from others.
Action Step for Today: Identify an activity that
is not giving you the results or satisfaction you
thought it would. Make a commitment to discon-
tinue it. Get in the habit of saying “no” more
often in order to protect your precious time.
“Do not squander time, for
that is the stuff life is made
of.”
– Benjamin Franklin,
1706-1790,
inventor, statesman
The Great Ones
Know How To Say “No”
191
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
Champions Are Not Addicted
To The Approval Of Others
B
ill Gove used to speak to audiences around the
world about what he called “the most debilitat-
ing addiction.” Bill was convinced this addic-
tion was worse than an addiction to drugs, booze or sex.
Bill called it “the addiction to the approval of others.”
This addiction stems from believing, “I won’t be loved
or accepted unless others approve of my behavior.” It’s
conformity at any cost. Amateurs operate from an outer
frame of reference which values the opinions of others
above their own. This is why the middle class makes
lousy leaders – and even worse salespeople. Amateurs
tend to live their lives in rst gear for fear of psycho-
logical abandonment. The aggregate cost to companies
hiring salespeople and executive leaders could be sub-
stantially reduced if they would hire for consciousness
rather than compliance. Southwest Airlines says they
hire for attitude and train for skills. I’d like to upgrade
that to “hire for consciousness and train for skills.”
“I am responsible to my
employees, customers, and
business associates; to be
honest, sincere, and to act
with integrity . . . but
I am not responsible for
their attitudes or behavior
towards me. I hope they
like me. It’s more pleasant
that way, but if not, it’s not
my problem.”
– Bill Gove,
1912-2001, the father of
professional speaking
Action Step for Today: On a scale of 1
to 7, 7 being highest, how high is your
need to be approved and validated by
other people? Next, ask your spouse or
best friend to rate you on the same scale,
and then compare answers.
192
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
The World Class Loves Liberty
W
hile the middle class may take their lib-
erties for granted, the world class sees it
as one of their greatest assets. Liberty: the
right to act, believe, or express yourself in the manner
of your choosing. The great ones know their oppor-
tunity to become great begins with the freedom to
choose and create their own destiny. The middle-
class consciousness doesn’t hold liberty in such high
regard, because they don’t believe they have that
much to lose. They are unaware that their liberty,
combined with their ability to upgrade their programming, has the potential to catapult
them into world-class consciousness. As a result, they remain mentally bound to medioc-
rity. They are searching the world for gold, not knowing it is right in their own backyard.
Champions are much different, and that’s why they tend to be happier, more successful
and more fullled. Their world is lled with love and abundance, while the middle class
continues to operate from fear and scarcity. Without the gift of liberty, the great ones might
never discover their true potential. Meanwhile, the middle class has everything they need
to become everything they can become, yet they choose to play it safe.
“Liberty means responsibil-
ity. That is why most men
dread it.”
– George Bernard Shaw,
1856-1950,
author and critic
Action Step for Today: Ask this critical
thinking question: “Am I taking full advan-
tage of the liberty that so many of my
fellow countrymen fought and died for?”
193
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
The Great Ones Seek Solitude
T
he masses don’t need to be overly con-
cerned about rest and recovery, because
they’re not pushing themselves much
beyond the typical routines of everyday life. The
average American watches 1,669 hours of televi-
sion per year. This activity is more of an escape
than a recovery strategy. Most champions are
aware that, due to their emotional nature, human
beings need recovery strategies if they are going
to be at their best, day in and day out. One of the
most popular among champions is solitude. The
simple act of getting away and getting quiet cre-
ates more space between their thoughts and helps
them escape the bondage of excessive cognition.
When it comes to getting big results, average per-
formers often believe working harder and longer is the answer. Champions often cut back
on traditional work time to allow their creative mind to operate at greater capacity. This
working-smarter strategy blends in beautifully in the 21st century, which is quickly becom-
ing known as “The Age of the Mind.” Many of world’s highest-paid people are able to tap
into the vast resources of their creative minds to produce products and services that solve
the problems of the masses. This level of creative thought requires signicant intellectual
energy, which must be followed by intellectual rest and recovery. The great ones know the
power of a quiet mind, and many invest time in solitude on a regular basis. They recognize
the performance value of a rested mind, body and spirit.
“Periods of wholesome laziness,
after days of energetic effort, will
wonderfully tone up the mind
and body. It does not involve
loss of time, since after a day
of complete rest and quietness,
you will return to your regular
occupation with renewed inter-
est and vigor.”
– Grenville Kleiser,
1868-1953, author
Action Step for Today: Just for today,
carve out at least 20 minutes of your
workday to get away from everyone and
get quiet. This simple recovery strategy
will do wonders for you if you make it a
habit.
194
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
Champions Are
Happily Dissatisfied
A
verage people have been labeled “somewhat dis-
satised.” This level of dissatisfaction probably
says more about their lack of belief in them-
selves than it does about their feelings of contentment. If
a person earns $50,000 per year and believes he has the
ability to earn $60,000 per year, a low level of dissatis-
faction with $50,000 likely results. On the other hand, a
person earning $50,000 a year who believes he can earn
$500,000 is very dissatised with his results. World-class
performers understand the power of healthy dissatisfaction, and are in a never-ending quest
to raise their levels of expectation and upgrade their beliefs. While average people believe,
“If you don’t expect much, you won’t be disappointed,” champions believe, “The only way
I’ll be disappointed is if I don’t take risks and give it my all.” This is a classic example of
how directly opposite philosophies drive these two groups. The results are obvious. The
middle class ends up playing it safe in order to gain comfort and security; the world class
becomes the movers and shakers. A good description of the world class is “happily dissatis-
ed.” The great ones are in the habit of playing the game of life without a net, and it all
begins with the pain of being dissatised with their current results.
“Show me a thoroughly
satised man – and I will
show you a failure.”
– Thomas Edison,
1847-1931, inventor
Action Step for Today:
If you’re satised in every
area of your life, ask why.
Are you content because
you are truly content, or
are you content because
you don’t believe you are
capable of accomplishing
or becoming more?
195
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
The World Class
Masters Time Management
A
verage people hate Monday, refer to
Wednesday as “hump day” and “Thank God
it’s Friday.” On the other end of the spec-
trum, champions enjoy all of it. The middle-class
consciousness lives for the weekend; the world class
lives in the now. Champions use their belief in them-
selves and their ferocious ambition to create the
work and home life they desire; so there is no need
to wish time away. This is one of the biggest secrets of the high achievers. Average people
search for security, while champions discover their life’s vision and purpose. When they
discover the work they love so much they would do it for free, they embark on the journey
of what Dr. Abraham Maslow referred to as “self-actualization,” or becoming all one can
be. This is the true secret of their success. They are using time, rather than allowing time
to use them. In other words, the great ones understand that no matter how successful they
become, time is the one resource they cannot create or purchase. Therefore, time becomes
their most valued prize. Since they love their work and home lives, they tend to outwork,
outplay, and (some would say) outlive their middle-class counterparts. The great ones
know that no one can truly manage time, yet everyone can manage activities. With that in
mind, the great ones surround themselves with activities they love so they are sure to get
the most fulllment out of the time they have.
“Even as we speak, jealous
time ees--seize this day, and
put little faith in tomorrow.”
– Horace, philosopher
Action Step for Today: Ask your-
self how much time you are wishing
away in anticipation of a more plea-
surable or fullling time. Look at your
life with honesty: is it possible to stop
investing time in activities you like
and exchange them for activities you
love?
196
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
A
verage performers tend to take a hit or
miss approach to attracting success, fulll-
ment and happiness into their lives. Pro-
fessional performers follow the formula known as
the Results Matrix. (Some are aware they’re fol-
lowing it, others are not.) The great ones believe
the ultimate prize is happiness, and that happiness
is the result of success and fulllment. They fur-
ther believe success and fulllment are created
by the appropriate habits, actions and behaviors,
which are dictated by a performer’s level of con-
sciousness. The performer’s level of consciousness
is created by their beliefs, and their beliefs are
created by their own programming, which is the
manifestation of the language and mental pictures
they use with themselves and others. The Results
Matrix works for any level you want to attain, and
it all begins with making a decision on what level
of words and pictures you will use on a regular
basis. The great ones decide to go pro and immedi-
ately upgrade their language and visualization to the world-class level. After this change
has been turned into a habit, it’s only a matter of time before a mental domino effect
begins and the performer starts to achieve world-class results. It’s such a simple formula
for world-class happiness that most us miss it. As speaker Jim Rohn says, “It’s easy to do,
and easy not to do.”
“Sales results say more about
the salesperson’s belief system
than it does about her sales
skills. What the salesperson
believes about her product,
company, herself and her pros-
pect has a greater impact
on her results than anything
she learned in sales training.
Beliefs control behavior, and
behavior creates results. The
real secret to increasing sales
is upgrading the salespersons
belief system, and it all begins
with programming.”
– Steve Siebold
Action Step for Today: Review the Results Matrix
and decide what level of happiness you wish to attain.
Your choices are Poverty class, Working class, Middle
class, Upper class, and World class. Next, begin the
process of upgrading your language and mental pic-
tures that you use with yourself and others.
197
Champions Follow
The Results Matrix
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
RESULTS MATRIX
198
_____________ Class LANGUAGE and VISUALIZATION creates
____________ Class Programming,
____________ Class PROGRAMMING creates ____________ Class
BELIEFS,
__________________ Class BELIEFS create _________________ Class
CONSCIOUSNESS,
____________ Class CONSCIOUSNESS creates _____________ Class HABITS,
ACTIONS and BEHAVIORS,
_________________ Class HABITS, ACTIONS and BEHAVIORS create
_______________ Class SUCCESS and FULFILLMENT,
____________ Class SUCCESS and FULFILLMENT creates ___________ Class
HAPPINESS. (The ultimate prize)
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
____________ Class PROGRAMMING creates ____________ Class
BELIEFS,
Champions Avoid Delusion
A
merican culture is inundated by devices of
delusion. How many of us are honest with
ourselves about our health? Today, 65% of
the American population is overweight, and little
less than half of this group is considered obese.
Ask someone who needs to lose weight how much
they think they need to lose in order to reach their
ideal weight. You’ll likely get an answer that’s half
the amount they really need to lose. How about
in the area of money? Most people have little or
no wealth and are ninety days from living on the
street, yet they have a wallet full of credit cards
that creates an illusion of wealth. As a result, they
don’t do anything to change their circumstances.
The same is true in relationships. Millions of mar-
riages project the illusion of happiness when, in
truth, they are held together only by economic
necessity. The world class, however, operates from
objective reality. They start with the facts and build
on them. Ask champions how much weight they
need to lose, and you’ll get an accurate number.
Ask about money, and you’ll nd they take it very
seriously. They know how much they have and
how to leverage it to get more. Ask about their rela-
tionships, and you’ll nd most of them put a great deal of time and effort into keeping
their relationships strong and solid. The great ones tend to stay on top of their key relation-
ships and keep close tabs on problems or issues as they occur. The world class has superior
problem-solving skills because they have the courage to build their lives on a solid founda-
tion of objective reality.
“The wise men of antiquity,
when they wished to make
the whole world peaceful and
happy, rst put their own
States into proper order.
Before putting their States
into proper order, they reg-
ulated their own families.
Before regulating their fam-
ilies, they regulated them-
selves. Before regulating
themselves, they tried to be
sincere in their thoughts.
Before being sincere in their
thoughts, they tried to see
things exactly as they really
were.”
– Confucius,
551 B.C.E.-479 B.C.E.,
philosopher
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177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
Action Step for Today: Take stock of your life. Look at the
critical areas of your life through the eyes of objective reality
and determine where you stand. Look at your health, nances,
relationships, career or business, spiritual development, rec-
reational activities, and any other area that’s important to you.
On a scale of 1 to 7, 7 being outstanding and 1 being lousy,
how are you doing? Rate yourself and then create a written
plan to improve in the next ninety days.
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177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
Champions Feed Their Vision
And Starve Their Fear
A
ll great philosophers seem to agree that human beings become what they think
about most of the time. For this reason, the world class creates compelling visions
written with great attention to detail and fueled by emotion, and then they think
about their vision all the time. The great ones seem to go through four stages of mental
evolution after creating a world-class vision: The rst stage brings them increased mental
clarity, which occurs as a result of putting their dreams on paper. The second stage is an
intensied focus on the vision, which occurs
as a result of the performer thinking about
the vision morning, noon and night. The third
stage turns their intensied focus into a burn-
ing desire, which is often fueled by the frustra-
tion of seeing and believing the vision is reality
on the mental plane but not yet on the physi-
cal plane. Champions often develop incredible
visualization and self-talk skills that convince
the subconscious the vision they project on the
movie screen of their mind is real, when at the same time the performers’ conscious mind
knows it’s not. This creates what psychologists call ‘cognitive dissonance’, or two thoughts
(cognitions) that are inconsistent. Since the human mind hates to be inconsistent, it drives
the performer to take action and make the vision a reality. This success-driven behavior
creates the nal stage, which occurs when the vision turns into an obsession. Most of
the time it’s a healthy obsession, which means the performer is thinking, strategizing and
moving closer to her vision every day. When stage four kicks in, failure is no longer an
option. The champion will do whatever it takes to manifest the vision. The great ones fuel
their obsession by only thinking positive thoughts about their vision, and these thoughts
create psychological, physiological and spiritual energy. At this stage they are no longer
willing to entertain thoughts of fear, and will shelter themselves from anything or anyone
who approaches them speaking the language of scarcity. In essence, the great ones feed
their vision and starve their fear.
“The world you desire can be won.
It exists, it is real, it is possible, it is
yours.”
– Ayn Rand,
1905-1982, author, philosopher
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177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
Action Step for Today: Just for today, decide that you will
only think thoughts of love and abundance, especially as they
relate to your vision. Refuse to entertain any thoughts of fear
or scarcity, and shelter yourself from anything or anyone that
brings you negative energy.
202
1. Increased Mental Clarity
2. Intensified Focus
3. Burning Desire fueled
by Frustration and Vision
4. Healthy Obsession
EXCITEMENT PHASE
SEASON OF PAIN
KNOWING PHASE
4 LEVELS OF VISION
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
The Great Ones
Are Powerful Public Speakers
A
ccording to the polls, the greatest fear of aver-
age people is speaking in public. In direct con-
trast, the world class has used public speaking
to persuade and inuence people for thousands of
years. The power to lead and build support through
public speaking is a direct result that is based on the
fear it represents to the masses. Think about it: 95% of
the average audience listening to a speaker is in awe
of the perceived courage and talent it takes to stand
up and deliver a speech. This sense of awe creates
a magnied impact on listeners and carries far more
credibility than a person trying to persuade someone
one-on-one. The great ones know this phenomenon
exists, so they master the art of public speaking. They
speak at every opportunity and seek training and coaching along the way. The introverted
and shy champions battle incredible levels of fear to become procient at public speak-
ing, yet they forge ahead, knowing they are relegated to lower places unless they learn to
master this skill. Their vision won’t allow this to happen. Champions do whatever it takes
to master this critical skill. The result is supreme condence and the ability to communicate
more effectively, without fear, to one or one thousand at a time.
“If I went back to college
again, I’d concentrate on
two areas: learning to write
and learning to speak
before an audience. Noth-
ing in life is more important
than the ability to commu-
nicate effectively.”
– Gerald R. Ford,
U.S. President
Action Step for Today: Decide to become an excel-
lent public speaker. Get training and coaching. Visit
www.speechworkshop.com and enroll in the Bill Gove
Speech Workshop. Join a Toastmasters club in your
area. Visit www.toastmasters.org
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177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
The World Class
Develops Emotional Intelligence
T
he middle class believes formal education is the most important key to success, yet
studies show a person’s level of emotional intelligence is far more signicant. The
world class places a high value on their ability to inuence other people through
their charm, charisma and emotional maturity. While the masses appeal to logic, the
world class realizes human beings are emotionally driven creatures who respond far better
to emotionally charged words, gestures and actions.
Champions place relationships above all else in their
interactions with others. The middle class goes to great
lengths to deny emotion is at the root of their habits,
actions and behaviors, although the evidence clearly
shows emotional creatures operate primary from emo-
tion. The masses believe their decisions are almost
always grounded in logic and fact. The great ones
know people buy with emotion and justify with logic.
This one difference in philosophy has a tremendous
impact on the results the two groups realize, as well
as on their corresponding approach to self-improve-
ment. The middle class chases more formal education;
the world class seeks to improve their level of emo-
tional intelligence by studying human behavior and
its impact on the people around them. Champions are
always studying emotional intelligence topics such as
psychology, sociology, philosophy, self-help, spiritual-
ity and etiquette. It propels their emotional and interpersonal skills, and as a result, their
success and fulllment.
“The secret of success is
not what they taught you
in school. What matters
most is not I.Q., not a
business-school degree, not
even technical know-how
or years of expertise. The
single most important
factor in job performance
and advancement is emo-
tional intelligence.”
– Daniel Goleman,
author
Action Step for Today: Develop your emotional intelli-
gence. Start by rating yourself on a scale of 1 to 7, 7 being
the highest, of how emotionally intelligent you are right
now.
204
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
World-Class Resource: Invest in Emotional
Intelligence, by Daniel Goleman. This book
will take you, step-by-step, through the pro-
cess of developing world-class emotional
intelligence. If you’re a manager who’s inter-
ested in training your team in this area, visit
www.mentaltoughnessuniversity.com
205
Emotion and Logic Have An Inverse Relationship
EMOTION
LOGIC
As Emotion Goes Up, Logic Goes Down
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
206
A
mateur performers are xated on their per-
ceived level of intelligence, just as most of
us were taught to be in school. They spend
a good part of their lives secretly fearing the world
will nd out they are not intelligent enough. Pro-
fessional performers operate from a higher mental
plane. They see intelligence as something that can
be assembled through a team, whose collective intelligence would surpass Einstein, Freud
and Marx. The ego-less champions assemble a mentor team to help them solve problems,
and to create new and innovative ways of doing things. Since champions don’t care about
who gets the credit, they lead, yet surrender to the collective brainpower of the team. Aver-
age people feel they must solve all their problems using their own intelligence, or risk
being viewed as nonessential or obsolete. Fear keeps the middle class from harnessing the
power of the brain trust. Champions carefully construct this mentor team brain trust and
serve as leaders and facilitators. Many of the greatest minds in the world come together
each year at a think tank called the Aspen Institute, in Aspen, Colorado. Some of society’s
biggest problems are discussed and masterminded there, far from the media and the rest
of the world. The great ones are smart enough to engage other people to assist them in
accomplishing their goals.
Action Step for Today:
Create or join a mastermind
group of intelligent, engaged
and powerful people who can
help you get what you want.
“I use not only all of the brains
I have, but all I can borrow.”
– Woodrow Wilson,
1856-1924, U.S. President
The World Class
Forms Brain Trusts
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
207
The Great Ones Are Obsessed
With Strategic Advantages
W
orld-class performers are always looking for
an edge, an ace in the hole – something to
give them the slightest advantage over their
opponent or competition. Champions realize the differ-
ence between the good and the great can usually be
measured in inches, rather than feet. They know it’s the
little things that make the difference. Examples include
Federal Express, pummeling the competition by guar-
anteeing overnight delivery to any location in the con-
tinental United States. Another example is Domino’s
Pizza, delivering in 30 minutes or less. The major dif-
ference we’ve found between average people and the
world class is that, while average people would love to
have a strategic advantage, champions are borderline
obsessed with nding it. Some of the best competitive-
advantage ideas come to champions in the middle of
the night. While the masses dream of winning the lottery, champions dream of the one little
add-on detail that takes them to a whole new level of success.
Action Step for Today:
Write down one strategic
advantage you can imple-
ment in your job/business
immediately that will make
a difference. It doesn’t have
to be anything big, because
when you get in the habit of
doing this everyday, the little
things add up to a make a
signicant difference.
“The ultimate strategic
advantage in business is
surrounding yourself with
a team of world-class per-
formers who are commit-
ted to the cause. If you’re
looking for an unfair
advantage over your com-
petition, look no farther
than your people.”
– George Madiou,
speaker, author
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
The World Class Reframes
Painful Past Experiences
C
hampions believe the only thing relevant about their past is how it affects their
present and future. The middle-class consciousness bases many beliefs on the
events of the past, yet the world class knows the past does not equal the future.
Champions are masters at placing new, empowering meanings on the struggles of the
past. Average people invest a lot of time living in the past and wishing things were dif-
ferent. The great ones know that, without the trouble and turbulence they experienced
in the past, they would not be where they are today.
This attitude creates mental harmony and fosters good
feelings about an otherwise troublesome set of memo-
ries. Good memories of the past are not an issue for
anyone; it’s the tough times that reveal the level of the
performer. The great ones share the philosophy that
everything happens for a reason. This allows them to
reframe events they originally perceived as negative.
This is another example of how champions use the
concept of truth vs. fact. The past event is fact. How they interpret the past event is truth.
Knowing they cannot change the facts of the past, champions instead alter their interpreta-
tion of the facts. This mental tool enables them to transform the pain of the past into a posi-
tive catalyst for growth in the future.
“It’s never too late to have a
wonderful childhood.”
– Larry Wilson,
founder, Wilson Learning
Corporation
Action Step for Today: Review the
3 most difcult adversities you listed
in Action Step 12, and ask yourself
how these events contributed to your
future success or fulllment. Reframe
each event into a memory with the
potential to serve you in the future.
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177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
Champions Know Their
Brains’ Primary Purpose
T
he great ones know the human brain’s primary
purpose is the preservation of the mind and
body. When an event occurs, the brain asks
three questions: 1) What is it? 2) What does it mean?
3) What do I do? The answers determine how the
performer responds to any given situation. The secret
that champions have discovered is that what an event
means is all based on the subjective perception of the
performer, and is therefore subject to change. If you change the perception of the event,
you automatically change the brain’s response to it. An example would be a salesperson
facing rejection day in and day out. The middle-class thinker perceives this rejection to
mean pain and suffering; the world class perceives it as completely necessary to justify
being paid a large salary and healthy commissions. If the champion had the opportunity
to remove rejection from the equation, she would refuse to do, it knowing that the job
would no longer be worth as much in the marketplace. Instead, she alters her perceptions
to empower her as a professional performer. The same scenario could apply to someone in
the middle of a divorce. The average thinker perceives the divorce as a personal failure; the
world-class thinker sees it as a learning experience that will make him tougher and wiser.
Which performer is right? Both, because perception, to an emotional creature, is reality.
It sometimes appears that the masses allow themselves to suffer for the sake of suffering,
when all they have to do is make a subtle shift in their perceptions and reprogram what
any given event means to them. While both experiencing the same event, the amateurs are
suffering while the pros are dancing in the streets. The only difference lies in the way they
manage and manipulate their emotions.
“What a thing means is
to an unknowable extent
determined by what we
think it means.”
– Joseph Chilton Pearce
209
Action Step for Today: Identify the three
most important events that are currently hap-
pening in your life, and ask this critical think-
ing question: “What do I think they mean,
and is my perception of these events helping
or hurting me?”
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
The World Class
Focuses On ‘The Why’
W
orld-class thinkers know that when it comes to manifesting their ultimate
visions, the real question that must be answered is not the how-to, but the
why. In other words, odds are that someone, somewhere, already knows how
to do whatever the champion wants to do, and can most likely be tapped as a mentor for
assistance. The critical thinking question is “Why do I want this vision to become real-
ity?” The intensity of emotion with which this question
is answered will determine whether the dream comes
alive or dies. If your house was burning down, would
you risk your life to save the furniture? Probably not,
but if your kids were trapped inside the house, would
you risk your life trying to save them? Of course. The
point is we will do anything if the stakes are high
enough, if we have a big enough reason why. World-
class thinkers know this and capitalize on it. While
middle-class thinkers are scaling back their goals and
dreams because they don’t know how to accomplish
them, world-class thinkers are soul searching for their
emotional motivators. The salesperson who dreams of
winning the company trip to Maui and being recog-
nized on stage in front of his family and peers. The
manager who envisions leading her team to record-
breaking sales in order to prove to herself that she is as
good as she knew she was, even though her stepfather
told her that she would never amount to anything. Champions know the secret to world-
class motivation lies in emotion. The great ones decide what they want, and more impor-
tantly, why they want it. They know all benets come down to an emotion that we are
trying to create though our goals and dreams, so they invest a lot of mental energy attempt-
ing to identify what emotion they are really after. Once they discover it, the ght to make
their vision a reality is over before it begins. Obstacles and setbacks are no match for a
visionary driven by raw emotion. Ordinary people are transformed into extraordinary per-
formers who no longer recognize failure as an option. The power of emotional motivation
is unmistakable, yet only the champions invest the time to tap into it.
“Send the harmony of a
great desire vibrating
through every ber of your
being. Find a task that
will call forth your faith,
your courage, your perse-
verance, and your spirit of
sacrice. Keep your hands
and your soul clean, and
your conquering current
will ow freely.”
–Thomas Dreier,
American Author
210
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
Action Step for Today: Make a com-
mitment to clearly identify what is driv-
ing you to achieve your life’s vision.
The ve most popular emotional moti-
vators in our Mental Toughness Univer-
sity Program are:
1) Religious/Spiritual Beliefs
2) Children/Family
3) Desire to prove oneself to oneself
4) Desire to prove oneself to others
5) General recognition/validation
211
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
The Great Ones
Are Critical Thinkers
T
here are ve basic levels of thinking we engage
in at any given time: The lowest level is unen-
gaged – going through the motions without
really thinking about what we’re doing. The next level
up is negative thinking, which is rooted in a fear- and
scarcity-based consciousness. We look for the negative
in every situation. Next is neutral thinking, which is
neither positive nor negative. Neutral thinking implies
a lack of energy at best, indifference at worst. This
is the thinking pattern of those who would like to be
more successful and are aware of how to do it, but
can’t be bothered to invest much thought energy into the process. Neutral thinking is one of
the hallmarks of the middle class. The next level is positive thinking, which often manifests
positive results. This mindset is rooted in love and abundance, but is sometimes blinded
by emotion. The mantra of the positive thinker is “look for the good in everything.” It’s a
good place to start, unless you’re standing in the middle of a highway and a truck is headed
toward you at ninety miles an hour and positive thinking tells you the truck will swerve
out of your path! Positive thinking is a good foundation, yet it’s no match for the world-
class philosophy of critical thinking. Critical thinkers use specic criteria to evaluate their
reasoning and make decisions, unclouded by emotion. The critical thinker reasons that the
speeding truck driver may not see him and decides to move out of the way. Critical think-
ing has been called the most difcult work in the age in which we now live: the Age of the
Mind.
“Critical thinkers do not
just drift through life, sub-
ject to every message they
hear; they think through
their choices and make con-
scious decisions.”
– Sherry Diestler, author
Action Step for Today: When you care about something, what type
of thinker are you? How is your level of thinking impacting your cur-
rent results?
212
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
World-Class Resource: For further study, read
Becoming a Critical Thinker, by Sherry Diestler.
Critical Thinking
(World Class)
Positive Thinking
(Upper Class)
Neutral
(Middle Class)
Negative Thinking
(Working Class)
Non-Engagement
(Poverty Class)
THE FIVE LEVELS OF THINKING
213
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
Champions Live
By The Law Of Attraction
O
ne of the most signicant secrets of the world
class is their thorough understanding that we
attract into our lives what we are, not what we
want. The law of attraction has been written about for
thousands of years. Secular wisdom denes it as the power
of the subconscious, directed by our dominant thoughts,
that attracts people, events and circumstances into our
lives to fulll our visions. Spiritual leaders argue that
dominant thoughts and prayers attract these same people,
events and circumstances through divine intervention.
Whatever your belief, the one thing all thought leaders
seem to agree on is this: the law of attraction exists and manifests our dominant thoughts on
the physical plane. The great ones know what they think about or give energy to will grow.
It doesn’t matter if it’s negative, positive or neutral. The law operates without judgment.
This is the reason average people barely get by, while the world class lives in abundance.
Thoughts are simply a series of vibrations that grow when supplied with energy. Champi-
ons can lose everything on the physical plane and gain it back very quickly just by bathing
their minds in thoughts of love and abundance. These thoughts lead to belief, and belief
leads to behavior which creates results. The middle class often misses the concept, while
the great ones reap the rewards by obeying this law.
“We attract into our
lives whatever we give
our energy, focus, and
attention to, whether
wanted or unwanted.”
– Michael J. Losier,
author
Action Step for Today: Examine the major areas
of your life and identify your dominant thoughts in
each area. If you’re unsure what you’re thinking
in these areas, check your results. Your results
are the manifestation of your dominant thoughts
over a period of time. If you wish to change your
results, change your dominant thoughts. Just for
today, select one area of your life and write down
three new thoughts you are going to condition
yourself to hold in your mind. Do this for thirty
days and monitor your results.
214
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
World-Class Resource: Pick
up Law of Attraction, by
Michael J. Losier. This book
is a quick read and gets to
the point fast.
215
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
The Great Ones Use Mentors
T
he masses are content to acquire knowledge,
information and wisdom the old-fashioned way
– from experience. Champions are different.
They believe in working smarter, not harder. This
means learning from mentors and coaches, who have
the ability to accelerate the process exponentially. My
late friend and client, Walter Hailey, the famous entre-
preneur from Texas, used to say the secret to his
success was his ability to “copy genius.” Instead of
investing years in the school of hard knocks, the world
class often reaches their heights by standing on the
shoulders of giants. Champions are famous for build-
ing mentor teams who are already where they want to be. Corporations call this group a
board of directors. Individuals call it a mentor team. Mentor teams guide, teach, advise
and encourage performers to think bigger and reach higher than ever before. They often
provide specialized knowledge and contacts linked to the area of life in which the per-
former needs assistance. The overall task of mentors is to help performers raise their level
of awareness and expectation. Mentors are continually prodding and pushing champions
beyond their comfort zone. The major advantage of the mentor team is the speed with
which it accelerates the performer’s growth. While average people expand their conscious-
ness at a steady rate, the mentor team demands rocket-like acceleration from their charges.
The mentor team is an ace in the hole for champions.
“The ultimate source of
information, and the whole
world’s living wisdom, lies
in the minds of others . . .
all you have to do is ask.”
– Walter Hailey,
1928-2003,
entrepreneur, speaker
Action Step for Today: Make a list of the ve
most successful people you know and make a
commitment to use the ‘copy genius’ philosophy
with them.
216
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
217
World-Class Resource: Read Break-
ing the No Barrier, by Walter Hailey. I
rst read it in 1999 and I’ve read it ve
times since. Walter Hailey was one of
the great business tycoons in the history
of Texas, and credited most of his suc-
cess to learning from mentors. This book
takes you behind the scenes and inside
the mind of a master thinker.
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
Champions Are Congruent
A
s you know, one of the dening characteristics
of champions is that they know exactly what
they want, why they want it, and how to get
it. Their actions are congruent with the size and scope
of their vision. While average performers wish for
the stars, they rarely back up their big dreams with
world-class action. Champions know that the road to
uncommon success and emotional fulllment is paved
with all-out, massive action. This congruency inte-
grates their belief with their behavior. The masses have
retained a set of limiting beliefs from childhood, and continue to have these beliefs rein-
forced and validated by others around them. The likelihood of them achieving outstanding
results is slim to none, unless they are exposed to a higher level of awareness and recognize
it. To determine the size of the champion, check for congruency between their vision and
their habits, actions and behaviors. If they are incongruent, performers have one of two
choices: upgrade their habits, actions and behaviors or reduce the size and scope of their
vision. This congruency model is what world-class coaches have used for years to keep
their performers on track. It’s the reason creating a detailed, emotionally charged vision is
the rst step in the mental toughness process.
“Congruency between
your vision and your
action will determine
whether you are a vision-
ary or a daydreamer.”
– Steve Siebold
Action Step for Today: Give yourself a reality
check to see if your habits, actions and behav-
iors are congruent with the size and scope of your
vision. If they are congruent, move forward know-
ing that you have a legitimate shot at making your
vision a reality. If they are not congruent, make
the choice today: Upgrade your habits, actions
and behaviors or reduce the size and scope of
your vision. The choice is yours.
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177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
The Great Ones Seek Fulfillment
W
hile the masses are programmed to believe
success is the secret to happiness, the world
class knows this is a myth. Many of them
learned this lesson the hard way, from experience.
They worked day and night to become successful, and
when they arrived, they found it a hollow victory.
Many discovered they had the equation backwards.
What they should have been doing was seeking fulllment instead of success, because suc-
cess almost always follows fulllment. The best example of this is the secret weapon of the
great ones: They love what they do. They don’t like it – they love it, and that slight distinc-
tion makes all the difference. Loving what you do and how you live your life is the founda-
tion of fulllment. It’s a lot easier to be successful when you are leading a deeply fullling
life. Fulllment is a magnet for success. It creates an extremely high level of vibration,
because it’s rooted in a love-based consciousness. This is why the rich get richer. It’s the
law of attraction. Success breeds success. Fulllment breeds fulllment and attracts suc-
cess. You can be rich and miserable, but you can’t be fullled and miserable. Knowing this,
the great ones create visions that focus on fulllment, and manifest success as a byproduct.
This one subtle difference in philosophy is what separates the upper class from the world
class. The upper class is often fabulously rich, powerful and successful. Some are even bil-
lionaires, yet all their money and power can’t seem to open the door to happiness. It never
will, because the door was never locked.
“People want riches; they
need fulllment.”
– Bob Conklin, author
Action Step for Today: Ask this critical thinking
question: “Am I chasing success or seeking fulll-
ment?” If you’re chasing success, can you shift
your strategy to seeking fulllment, knowing suc-
cess will follow? Do you love what you do for a
living so much you would do it for free? If not,
what would you do if you had your choice? (Hint:
you do!)
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177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
Champions Escape
Excessive Cognition
T
he enemy of creativity and clarity is excessive
cognition, or having too many thoughts to pro-
cess at the same time. The old cliché, “you can’t
see the forest for the trees” applies when this occurs.
Cognitive overload is a major problem for many lead-
ers, but not for the world class. Champions know we
are living in the age of the mind, where operating with
optimal clarity is critical. This is the reason they sched-
ule time to get away and be alone with their thoughts.
Amateur thinkers see this as vacation time or time off,
but the pros know it’s completely different. Investing
in solitude gives performers a chance to slow their thought processes and elevate their
consciousness in order to gain perspective. When champions’ minds are clear and focused,
they turn their power to creating new solutions to current problems. The great ones know
their single greatest asset is their ability to think. They do whatever it takes to make sure
their minds are fresh, rested and clear. One of the most powerful tools gaining popularity
with world-class leaders is the otation tank, a sensory deprivation tool that isolates the
mind from external stimulation. It’s an enclosed chamber, about the size of a closet, com-
pletely dark and soundproof. Inside is a tub, lled with ten inches of water mixed with
Epsom salts, in which a person can oat. After an hour, the performer emerges, refreshed
and renewed. The great ones are open to anything that will give them an edge in their think-
ing. While the masses focus on exploring outer space, the great ones explore their inner
space. This nonlinear approach to thinking and problem solving is misunderstood by the
masses, who still believe the key to getting better results is working harder. Champions
know thinking is the real answer, and they are committed to keeping their minds fresh and
clear.
“Experts believe each of us
can tap into our own islands
of savant intelligence that
are simply overwhelmed by
everyday cognition.”
– Scientic American
Mind magazine
Action Step for Today: Schedule time to isolate
yourself for twenty to thirty minutes every day for
the next week, and take note of how it impacts
your ability to think clearly.
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177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
World-Class Resource: The
most valuable book I’ve read
on this topic is The Book of
Floating, by Michael Hutchi-
son. If you’re interested in
learning more about how to
use sensory deprivation to
reduce excessive cognition
and explore your conscious-
ness, get a copy of this amaz-
ing book.
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177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
The Great Ones
Are Masters Of Follow Up
T
he world class is known for their attention to
detail. Nowhere is this more evident than in
their follow up and follow through with people,
projects and promises. This is one of the little things
separating champions from wannabes. Average people
over promise and under deliver. The world class makes
big promises and delivers equal or greater results.
When a champion tells you they will do something,
count on it getting done. Great follow up is one of
their habits. Returning telephone calls promptly, writ-
ing thank you notes, and connecting people are just a
few examples of serious follow up habits. These types
of details serve to inspire condence. Other people of
inuence condently recommend the champions to others, and much of this trust is devel-
oped through the constant experience of the champions doing what they said they would
do. Follow through inspires condence and fosters trust, and the great ones know it. Aver-
age people follow through when they feel like it; the world class follows through regardless
of whether they feel like it or not. The great ones are masters of their emotions, and their
follow up and follow through habits are a prime example of this valuable skill.
“The average person makes
lofty promises to people
and is rarely heard from
again. The leader makes
those same promises and
over delivers.”
– Bill Gove,
1912-2001, the father of
professional speaking
Action Step for Today: Ask this critical thinking
question: “How often do I do what I say I am going
to do?” Do you follow through every time, or only
when you feel like it? Make a commitment to only
make promises you can deliver.
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177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
Champions Do What’s Right
T
he world class tends to live by a code of ethics
that says, “Do what’s right.” Since the masses
tend to operate from a fear- and scarcity-based
consciousness, they are more prone to take unethical
shortcuts. They’re not bad people; they’re frightened
people, and frightened people are prone to errors in
judgement. On the other hand, champions are operat-
ing from a love- and abundance-based consciousness.
They believe there is an unlimited source of supply,
and they have access to the source. The world class
tends to be people of great faith, in one form or another. The common denominator is their
faith in themselves and their ability to create the life they’ve chosen. They trust themselves,
and they tend to trust others. This solid mental foundation leads them to do what they
believe is right and fair in all their interactions with others. While the middle-class thinker
looks to the outside world for answers, world-class thinkers look inside themselves. The
great ones have a strong internal frame of reference, and they treat people as they would
like to be treated. It has been said the greatest among us answer to a higher calling, and
that personies the champion. The higher calling may come from inside them, or from a
higher power, depending on their belief structure. Wherever it comes from, it guides the
great ones to do what’s right, even if it’s unpopular.
“Start with what’s right,
rather than what is accept-
able.”
– Peter Drucker,
author and
management consultant
Action Step for Today: When you’re making
decisions that demand ethical consideration,
ask this question: “What is the right thing to
do?” Follow your higher self and do it, even if
it’s unusual or unpopular.
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177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
The Great Ones Think Big
W
hile average performers think about how
to survive with the least amount of pain
and struggle, the world class thinks big and
plans their brilliant futures. Ask people around you
what they think about at any given time, and you might
be surprised to learn how many think about just getting
by. The world class refers to this as “selling yourself
short.” Their philosophy seems to be, “If you’re going
to be thinking, you may as well think big.” Their love-
and abundance-based consciousness is the engine that
drives their big thoughts and creative ideas. The great
ones are fearless and focused on manifesting their ultimate dreams. While the middle class
thinks about how to avoid pain, the world class thinks about how to gain gratication.
One group views the world as a scary place, and the other sees it as an exciting adventure
with endless possibilities. The masses see life as a threat; the great ones see it as a game.
The difference in thinking is so dramatic between these two groups that, when you talk
to them, it’s as though you’re speaking to people from different planets. The champions’
abundance-based consciousness drives them to think and dream bigger with each passing
success.
“The life each of us lives
is the life within the limits
of our own thinking. To
have life more abundant,
we must think in limitless
terms of abundance.”
– Thomas Dreier, author
Action Step for Today: Review your vision for your life, and think
about your greatest dreams. Are you selling yourself short? Are
you thinking too small? Are you letting fear hold you back from the
abundance of life? Do you really have what it takes to hit it big?
(Hint: yes!) Rewrite your vision today and go bigger than ever.
Trust in your ability to nd a way to make your dream come true.
You can do it!
World-Class Resource: Do yourself a favor and pick
up The Magic of Thinking Big, by David J. Schwartz. I
read it in 1984 and it changed my life.
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177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
Champions Build Cocoons
O
ne of the things champions are famous for is their
ability to build cocoons to protect their thought
processes from the disease known as lack con-
sciousness. In short, champions only hang out with other
champions. While the middle class judges this as pretentious
and elitist, the great ones believe it’s essential to their suc-
cess. Champions believe consciousness is contagious, and
know they will become the average of their closest friends
and associates. The great ones aren’t gamblers. They prefer
to be the house. Part of that philosophy is surrounding them-
selves with people of equal or greater consciousness. The
great ones know they don’t have the luxury of thinking neg-
ative thought. They know one fear-based thought has the power to suffocate a life-chang-
ing idea in its infancy. The cocoon protects their consciousness from the onslaught of fear
and scarcity. In addition to surrounding themselves with other champions, the world class
reads and listens to inspiring books and recordings. Many invest time in spiritual develop-
ment to strengthen their faith. They attend seminars and workshops to increase their level
of awareness and network with other champions, and they also give back to their communi-
ties and involve themselves with people who are leaders and activists. In essence, the world
class creates an environment rmly entrenched in prosperity consciousness that serves as
the rich soil necessary for them to manifest their ultimate vision.
“Champions isolate
themselves from the
masses, not out of
pretension, but out
of practicality. They
know consciousness
is contagious.”
– Steve Siebold
Action Step for Today: Keeping in mind that
consciousness is contagious, and that the people
around you can either help you expand your
thinking or inject fear and scarcity into your soul,
list the people in your inner circle. Is it time to
upgrade your cocoon?
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177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
World-Class Resource: Pick up
The Dynamic Laws of Prosperity,
by Catherine Ponder. Read this
book with a highlighter in hand. It’s
a classic.
226
COCOONING
Friends and Associates
Reading World-Class
Books and Publications
Watching Uplifting
Television and Movies
Living Conditions,
Surrounding Yourself in a
Climate of Abundance
Positive vs. Negative
Entertainment
Listening To World-Class
Programming CDs
Listening To Tapes/CDs By
Sucessful Authors, Speakers,
Philosophers
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
The World Class Chooses
Repentance Over Blame
A
devastating trait of the middle class is
their tendency to blame other people,
circumstances and events for their
shortcomings. While average performers avoid
responsibility for their failures, the world class
tends to repent. The heart of the champion’s con-
sciousness is the belief that all of us are respon-
sible for our own successes, failures and errors
in judgment. With this level of conviction, the
great ones usually choose to repent, as opposed
to making excuses or blaming others. They are
“It is important to admit your
mistakes, and do so before you
are charged with them. I seize the
earliest opportunity to assume
the blame.”
– David Ogilvy,
1911-1999, co-founder,
Ogilvy & Mather Advertising
the rst to apologize and the last to lash out. Many times they take responsibility for break-
downs or failures not directly related to their own actions. This behavior stems from the
belief that their elevated level of awareness makes them responsible for watching out for
others who are less aware. It’s the parent taking responsibility for the child’s behavior.
While average performers are too busy protecting their egos, the world class operates from
a spirit-based consciousness. This gives them the power to change their minds and beliefs
if a more accurate truth is realized, without their ego getting in the way. The great ones
have evolved enough to recognize the damage their ego can inict in any given situation.
While most champions possess a very healthy ego, they use it to fuel their ambitions, not
govern their behavior. In other words, when it comes to interacting with people and prob-
lem solving, they bypass their egos and tap their spirits. When champions are wrong, they
repent, take responsibility and apologize. This spirit-based consciousness creates an emo-
tional connection with people and fosters more harmonious relationships.
227
Action Step for Today: Think of an event, circumstance, or behavior for
which you were responsible, yet chose not to admit fault and repent. As
an experiment, go to the other people involved and apologize. See what
happens. Notice how their attitude shifts from ego to spirit, and the level
of connection you create as a result. Is this spirit coming from inside the
person, or from outside, by way of a higher power? Wherever you believe
this spirit originates, the power of repentance cannot be overstated.
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
The Great Ones Grow Up
W
hile the masses are still wallowing in the past and wondering why things
couldn’t have been better, the world class grows up and gets on with the great
game of life. Most people have never outgrown their adolescence when it
comes to controlling their emotions. They are still feeling sorry for themselves and being
heavily inuenced by the people around them. Fear
is an example of this extended adolescence. Children
are afraid of many things that pose no actual threat to
their well being, such as monsters under the bed or in
the closet. The adult masses have the same irrational,
made-up fears of events that pose no actual threat,
yet hold them back from becoming champions. The
fear of rejection, the fear of public speaking, and the
fear of success are three examples. When we allow
ourselves to buy into these adolescent fears, we are
in essence, behaving like children. Champions know
that growing up emotionally is essential to achieving
world-class results. The great ones still feel fear, but
choose to confront their fears and ask themselves if
the threat is real or imagined. This critical thinking
skill enables the champion to move past many of the
obstacles that stop the middle class before they even get started. Many broken marriages
are a result of adolescent expectations. The amateur thinker enters the relationship believ-
ing their partner has no faults. As times passes and these faults are revealed, the amateur
wants to end the relationship and nd someone with fewer faults. The pros are grown up
enough to know that all of us are fallible human beings with multiple strengths and weak-
nesses, and that the successful integration of two lives under one roof takes dedication and
work. Professional performers grow up and discover that nothing good comes easy, and if
it did, we probably wouldn’t appreciate its true value. The great ones expect to ght for
what they want, so when they hit the inevitable obstacles along the way, they are neither
surprised nor intimidated. It all begins with their decision to grow up.
“People mired in adoles-
cence have no way of know-
ing that the best is yet
to come; it is just past
the point where you take
responsibility for yourself
and your relationships, and
leave your self-pity behind.
Adulthood has been vastly
underrated.”
– Dr. Frank Pittman,
psychiatrist
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177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
229
Action Step for Today: Examine the areas of your life
and ask yourself this question: “ Am I behaving like an
adult in this area…or like a child?”
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
Champions Embrace Diversity
T
he world class has abandoned any notion or
belief that one race, creed or color is any better
then the next. They openly embrace ideas and
consider ideology from people of different genera-
tions, cultures, and philosophies, knowing that every
one of us has something to contribute. While amateur
thinkers can be quick to judge a book by its cover,
the great ones see beyond the package and into the
soul. The difference can be summed up by the level
of consciousness under which each group operates.
With fear and scarcity at the helm, the masses have a sneaking suspicion that anyone differ-
ent from them is a threat to their security. Since fear breeds fear, the only way the problem
can be solved is to abandon this consciousness altogether and ascend to thoughts of love
and abundance. This is where the world class resides. They embrace diversity, because
they are lled with a spirit-based thought process that is devoid of ego, pretense and fear.
Simply stated, the world looks very different when viewed though the eyes of love.
“Diversity is a competitive
advantage. Different people
approach similar problems
in different ways.”
– Rich McGinn, CEO,
Lucent Technologies
Action Step for Today: Set a goal to make a new friend
or business contact of a different race, political afliation,
sexual preference, culture, religion or philosophy. Make a
commitment to do this at least once a quarter, and you’ll be
delighted at the insights you’ll gain from a group you may
have previously misunderstood.
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177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
The Great Ones Use
World-Class Language
T
he fastest way to identify a person’s level of
consciousness is by listening to the way they
use language. Big words and fancy phrasing
don’t mean much. As a matter of fact, it can hinder
your ability to communicate effectively. When I
say “use language,” I mean what you say and how
you say it. A champion distinguishes himself by the
attitude his words convey. You can spot a world-class thinker by listening to his ordinary
conversation. A champion is optimistic, future-oriented and condent, and their words and
enthusiasm reect this thought process. While a middle-class thinker talks about “just get-
ting by” and “working for the weekend,” a champion uses words such as “thrive” and
“prosperity” and “love”. The language you use tells the world how you think and serves
to reprogram and strengthen your belief in what you say. An average thinker can program
himself for mediocrity as easily as he can program himself for abundance! The universe
doesn’t care; it must give you what you ask for by natural law. So in essence, you either talk
yourself into abundance or into scarcity . . . by choice. Most of the world-class performers
I’ve coached or competed with were unaware of this initially, yet, at some point in their
lives, learned the truth. Through self-education, they learned the power of programming
through language. Thousands have said this one idea contributed more to their success than
anything else. They now know they can talk themselves into any reality they desire. The
lower levels of consciousness speak the language of fear and scarcity. The great ones speak
the language of love and abundance.
“Language is the picture and
counterpart of thought.”
– Mark Hopkins, author
Action Step for Today: Become hyper-aware of how
people around you talk. Listen to the words they use to
describe their experiences. Based on this, evaluate their
level of consciousness. Begin to monitor your language,
and ask yourself the same question. You’re going to be
shocked by how easy it is to recognize middle-class con-
sciousness, and how simple it is to upgrade to the world
class. The secret is becoming more aware.
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177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
World-Class Resource: Invest in
Power Linguistics, by Dave Yoho. Visit
www.daveyoho.com
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177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
Champions Understand
Cause And Effect
T
he masses tend to focus on effects, rather than
on the causes that create the effects. The world
class goes directly for the cause and lets the
effects take care of themselves. This is most evident in
the area of weight loss. America is the fattest country
in the world, with more than 65% of our population
overweight and 27% are obese. This effect is leading
many Americans down the road to diabetes, heart dis-
ease and death. So how do the masses solve the prob-
lem? They swallow pills, go on crash diets, and starve
themselves until they can no longer stand it. All these
methods treat the effects. They’re an external solution
to an internal problem. The cause is the way people think about food and exercise, and the
solution is to change those thoughts. When those thoughts are upgraded from middle class
to world class, the weight problem gently fades and never returns. The internal problem
is solved with an internal solution. Our level of health and tness, like everything else in
our lives, is the direct manifestation of how we think. It’s the outward appearance of our
internal thoughts. Average thinkers are unaware of this truth, and would most likely reject
it as being too pedestrian to work even if they were made aware of it. Like most of the
secrets of the world class, it’s simple and straightforward. Cause and effect are no different,
yet the great ones go from knowing this to actually using it. That’s one of the reasons we
call them champions.
“Society constantly expends
its efforts to correct effects
rather than causes, which is
one reason why the devel-
opment of human conscious-
ness proceeds so slowly.”
– Dr. David Hawkins,
M.D., Ph.D, author
Action Step for Today: Look at the
major areas of your life and ask what’s
holding you back from getting better.
Next, identify the causes that are creat-
ing the effects, and set a goal to attack
the cause and solve the problem.
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177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
The World Class Relies
On Infinite Intelligence
T
he world class’s spirit-driven consciousness is one
of the biggest advantages they have in business
and in life. Champions are not ashamed to ask for
help, whether it comes in the form of a mentor or some-
place higher. One of the ancient secrets of the great ones
is asking for guidance and wisdom from a higher power.
Secularists call it meditation; the spiritual call it prayer.
Secularists believe the wisdom meditation offers comes
from inside the subconscious mind. The spiritual believe
their wisdom comes from God. Some people believe it
taps into both. Whatever their individual belief, the great
ones believe in a source of innite intelligence upon
which they can draw. Champions know the secret to connecting to a higher plane is tuning
into the vibrational frequency of the source. This begins by quieting the mind. The secular-
ists seek out a quiet place; the spiritual often go to church or a chapel. The goal is to create
sufcient space between their thoughts in order to gain perspective and begin thinking on
a higher frequency.
“Religion is about obe-
dience. Spirituality is
about self-discovery.”
– Bill Gove,
1912-2001, the father
of professional
speaking
Action Step for Today: Ask this critical thinking question:
“Do I use meditation or prayer as a means of gaining
wisdom?” If yes, the next question is, “Am I meditating or
praying out of love or fear?”
World-Class Resource: There’s a
Spiritual Solution to Every Problem, by
Dr. Wayne Dyer.
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177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
The Great Ones Manifest Energy
T
he engine behind every great cham-
pion’s success is energy in three
forms: physical, mental and spiritual.
Because the world class operates from a
love- and abundance-based consciousness,
they appear to have almost boundless energy.
At a lower level, the masses operate from
fear – the biggest energy sucker known to
man. Love attracts energy; fear consumes it.
Is it any wonder average people are tired and
worn out half the time? The masses uncon-
sciously deplete their own energy. Champi-
ons create energy through their thoughts, and
their thoughts produce feelings that reinforce their belief that everything happens for a
reason. The great ones believe they are destiny’s darlings; that they were born to win.
No matter how bad things get, they believe the universe is conspiring to help them. This
belief in universal favor becomes a self-fullling prophecy and attracts all three forms of
energy. This pattern creates a psychological tidal wave of momentum that drives perform-
ers beyond normal limits of energy. In contrast, middle-class performers think thoughts
and manifest feelings rooted in fear, which drains energy and attracts additional fear. The
masses suffer physical, mental and spiritual fatigue from their own thought processes.
They are the architects of their own destruction, even though they are completely capable
of redesigning their consciousness. By natural law, energy is created or consumed by
thought, and the great ones choose to create it.
“The real difference between men
is energy. A strong will, a settled
purpose, an invincible determina-
tion, can accomplish almost any-
thing; and in this lies the distinction
between great men and little men.”
– Thomas Fuller,
1710-1790,
African slave and mathematician
Action Step for Today: Be aware of the thoughts you
have and ask yourself if they are creating or consum-
ing energy. Just for today, allow only energy-generat-
ing thoughts to occupy your mind. Notice the physical,
mental and spiritual impact it has on you.
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177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
World-Class Resource: For further study, pick up a
copy of Power vs. Force, by David R. Hawkins, M.D.,
Ph.D. This book is 300 pages of solid research,
guaranteed to stir the deepest parts of your imag-
ination. You may never see human behavior the
same way again.
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177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
Champions Embrace
Nonlinear Thinking
N
onlinear thinking has been referred to as “think-
ing out of the box.” The root of this thought
process has more to do with philosophy than
strategy. When the middle class says, “it’s impossible,”
the world class agrees. Then they say, “but if it were
possible, how would it be done?” This is why profes-
sional performers are the ones who solve society’s most
complex problems. The masses believe problem solving
stems from knowledge. The great ones believe it stems
from will. Once they have established the will to succeed,
there is no turning back. Their incredible determination
creates the need for nonlinear thinking, combined with boundless energy. Champions also
earn money in nonlinear ways. While the masses essentially trade their time for money,
the great ones realize this is probably the worst way to acquire wealth. Using nonlinear
tools such as compound interest, employees, network marketing, joint ventures, strategic
alliances, and others, they build wealth by creating leverage. The upper class, classied as
wealthy in nancial terms, generates their money primarily by their job or business. The
world class, often classied as super-rich in nancial terms, generates their money primar-
ily through investments. The bigger the champion, the more they use leverage as a tool in
all areas of life, and it all starts with a nonlinear thought process.
“Nonlinear thinking is
the manifestation of
a performer’s aming
desire to breathe life
into his or her ultimate
vision.”
– Steve Siebold
Action Step for Today: Examine your problem-
solving thought processes. Notice whether you’re
thinking in linear or nonlinear terms. Take a second
look at your biggest problems. Is it possible to take
a nonlinear approach to solving them?
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177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
The World Class
Gets Paid To Think
T
oday, the highest-paying position in business is the professional thinker, and the
world class knows it. While amateur thinkers continue to follow the old-world phi-
losophy of “hard work is the key to success,” champions have evolved over the
years from working harder, to working smarter, to
critical thinking. The age of the mind has caused
confusion among the masses because of its nonlin-
ear nature. Creative thought ourishes in a mental
climate of peace, quiet, and harmony, and cannot
be coaxed or coerced. Any attempt to force it
produces congestion and sties the neurological
network. The secret to world-class thinking is cir-
culation, and the key to circulation is letting go.
The great ones never attempt to control or force
thoughts; they simply create a climate in which
creative thought can ourish and grow. The masses
will tell you the corporate CEOs and other execu-
tives are overpaid, because they think in linear terms. Average people are still dividing the
executives’ salary by the number of hours they spend at the ofce. That’s why the masses
believe the world class is overpaid. In truth, most executives are underpaid, considering
they spend nearly every waking minute thinking about how to help their companies grow
and prosper. When average people go home after forty or fty hours of work, executives
are almost always still on the job. They may not be in the ofce, but the ofce is on their
mind. The days of using physical strength to prosper are over. From this point forward, the
world belongs to the men and women of the mind.
“Creative thinking is today’s
most prized, prot-producing
possession for any individual,
corporation or country. It has
the capacity to change you,
your business and the world.”
– Robert P. Crawford,
author
Action Step for Today: List ve ways you can
increase your value to your business or career
by creating new ideas.
World-Class Resource: Read Atlas Shrugged,
by Ayn Rand. This timeless classic is guaranteed
to stimulate your thinking.
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177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
The Good And Great
Are Separated By A Razor’s Edge
A
verage people tend to believe
world-class performers are so
superior, so far out in front, so
much smarter and more talented that
there is absolutely no way they could
become one – and it’s not true. It’s not
even close. The truth, as the evidence in
this book suggests, is there is really only
a razor’s edge separating the good from
the great, or the middle class from the
world class. Granted, it’s a razor’s edge
in many different areas, a series of crit-
ical subtleties that makes all the differ-
ence. The real question this book presents
to middle-class performers is this: is it possible for a person of average intelligence and
modest means to ascend to the throne of the world class? The answer is an enthusiastic
YES! Of course it’s possible. The question is not one of possibility, but of will. History has
shown us the majority of people will not rise up and take the challenge. They could – they
have the intelligence and the potential – yet they won’t. It’s not because they lack desire,
but because they don’t believe it’s possible. They are tired of being disappointed. It’s easier
to simply turn on the television, or engage in some other mind-numbing activity. Could
they alter their level of expectation and forge ahead? You bet! Through language change
and visualization, they could articially manufacture a higher level of expectation, regard-
less of where they are now. Again, the statistics say most will never even attempt it. When
you go pro, it’s much easier to compete against amateurs. At the risk of sounding preachy,
I have been both an amateur and a pro, and I highly recommend going pro. Emotionally
and mentally, it’s actually much more comfortable after you cross the barrier. How do you
go pro? It’s simple. You decide to do it. Period. Then just go back through this book with a
highlighter and model the thought processes, habits, and philosophies of the great ones.
“Desire plus sacrice plus discipline
equals preparation. Preparation plus suc-
cess equals condence. Mental toughness
plus pride equals perseverance. If you
have condence and persevere, you will
always have the edge. If you have the
edge, you will succeed. Eventually.”
– Howard Ferguson,
1938-1989,
wrestling coach, author
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177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
World-Class Resource: Get a
copy of the late Howard Fer-
guson’s classic, The Edge: The
Guide to Fullling Dreams, Max-
imizing Success and Enjoying a
Lifetime of Achievement. This book
has become a collector’s item for
top performers everywhere. It’s
loaded with quotations and phi-
losophies of many of the world’s
most outstanding athletes.
Action Step for Today: Conduct a critical analysis of your-
self as a performer. Rate yourself on a scale of 1 to 7, 7
being highest, in terms of the following habits: sacrice,
discipline, condence, pride, and mental toughness. If you
scored less than 7 in any area, make a commitment to do
further study on this habit. Any change or improvement in
any of these habits has the power to rocket your results.
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177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
T
wenty years ago, why some people were so much more successful and fullled than
others was a mystery to me. Were they smarter? More educated? More talented?
The answer is no. Oh, I’ve come across a genius or two over the years, but 99%
of the time, the answer is much simpler. The great ones become great because they are
more mentally tough. Through time and effort, they have learned to take control of their
thoughts, feelings and attitudes in the game of life and in turn, life has rewarded them
handsomely. You can do the same thing if
you’ll commit yourself to never ending per-
sonal growth and development. I’ve said this
many times throughout this book, but it’s
worthy of repeating: Champions invest time
in getting better. School is never out for the
great ones. Have you ever been to the book-
store and wondered who reads all those busi-
ness and self-improvement books? It’s not
the poverty class, or the working class, or the
middle class. It’s the world class. The people
who need it most wouldn’t even consider it,
and the people who need it least wouldn’t
consider missing it. A never-ending cycle of
self-education is the centerpiece of world-class consciousness. All it takes to get started is a
decision to do it. Throughout this book, I’ve referenced the old cliché, “The rich get richer
and the poor get poorer.” When I rst began studying mental toughness, I didn’t understand
why. I do now. After reading this book, I hope you do, too.
“The A students work for the B stu-
dents, the B students work for the
C students, and the D students ded-
icate the buildings. The most suc-
cessful among us are not always the
class valedictorians, but they are
the best self-educated people on the
planet.”
– Unknown
Action Step for Today: Ask yourself these critical thinking questions:
1) Am I really committed to going pro?
2) Am I willing to do whatever it takes to fulll my vision?
3) Am I willing to put a plan together to implement the suggestions in
....this book?
241
School Is Never Out
For The Great Ones
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
Learning Resources
• Mental Toughness University
• Mental Toughness Institute for Weight Control
• Mental Toughness Mastery
• Create The Future
• Bill Gove Speech Workshop
• Bill Gove Speech Seminar
• Everything You Need To Know About Speaking
• Speaking Is Easy . . . You Already Know How To Do It!
• The Best Of Bill Gove
• The Ultimate Speaking Package
• How To Conquer The Cold Market In Network Marketing
243
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
244
MENTAL TOUGHNESS UNIVERSITY
Mental Toughness moves managers and salespeople from good to great – and creates a no-
excuses, high performance culture.
Mental Toughness University is a comprehensive mental training process designed for
organizations that want to increase sales, improve customer service, and reduce turnover
by becoming mentally tough.
MTU denes Mental Toughness as taking control of your thoughts, feelings and attitudes,
before, during and after a performance, especially under pressure. It’s all about creating the
proper mental climate for world-class performance to grow.
For more information please call 561.733.9078 or visit
www.mentaltoughnessuniversity.com
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF TH E WO R L D CL A S S
245
MENTAL TOUGHNESS INSTITUTE FOR WEIGHT CONTROL
MTI is a mental toughness training and support system designed to work in conjunction with
your diet and exercise program. It’s a 12-week telecourse that combines mental toughness
training with a national support network. It’s a cross between a support group and boot camp!
Order by calling 561.733.9078 or visit www.thefatlosers.com
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF TH E WO R L D CL A S S
246
MENTAL TOUGHNESS MASTERY
12 CD Series
The great ones believe that nearly any goal is within their reach, and this single belief sets
off a mental domino effect that continues to manifest one success after another. They liter-
ally THINK their way to the top, and 99% of them are no smarter than you and I.
Here’s the problem:
It’s not easy to make the distinction between the good and the great unless you know what
you’re looking for. After 20 years of studying champions, I’ve discovered that it’s really a
series of subtleties that add up to make the difference. Without knowing what to look for,
most people will completely miss these subtleties. When you stand the champion next to a
middle-class performer, there doesn’t appear to be much difference. Have you ever thought
to yourself, “I can’t gure out why so and so is so successful; he/she doesn’t seem to be
any different than me or anyone else?”
Me, too. But not anymore. The differences are huge, but not very visible. So here’s what
I’ve done. I’ve selected the biggest differences between the winners and the still-trying,
and I’ve put all of this information on a 12 CD series called Mental Toughness Mastery.
You will receive 12 CDs detailing exactly how champions think and process information,
as well as real life stories and examples of the world-class performers I’ve worked with
over the years, and how to incorporate these ideas and philosophies into your life . . .
immediately.
Order by calling 561.733.9078 or visit www.mentaltoughnessmastery.com
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
247
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF TH E WO R L D CL A S S
THE BILL GOVE SPEECH SEMINAR
6 DVD Series
Learn the speaking secrets of the world’s highest paid presenters
in this 6 hour DVD presentation!
You will learn:
· How to write and catalog speeches like a professional speaker
· The three key elements every professional speech needs to have
· How to eliminate the mortal enemy of every speaker
· How to move on stage effectively
· The support secret that professional speakers use to relax before every speech
· How to use theatrical techniques in your presentation that create excitement
· How to use a time line continuum to gage the effectiveness of your speech
· How to use call backs to add humor and fun to your presentation
· The secret that comedian George Burns taught Bill Gove
· The EPM/LPM method of measuring payoffs in your speech
· And much more. Over a half-century of wisdom direct from the vault of the world-famous
..Bill Gove Speech Workshop
Order by calling 561.733.9078 or visit www.speechseminar.com
248
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF TH E WO R L D CL A S S
249
EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT SPEAKING
By Bill Gove - Featuring Steve Siebold
4 DVD album
Everything You Need To Know About Speaking, by Bill Gove. This 4 DVD album
is an exclusive 3 hour reside chat with the father of professional speaking, Mr.
Bill Gove. Bill offers the tips, techniques, and speaking strategies that made him
one of the most popular professional speakers of the 20th century. This is a behind-
the-scenes, backstage interview with the master of masters, telling it like it was
and like it is in the world of professional speaking. The stories Bill tells on these
DVDs are worth their weight in gold. This one-of-a-kind album is a classic and a
must-have in your personal library. It’s been sold in 30 countries around the world.
Order by calling 561.733.9078 or visit www.championsmagazine.com
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF TH E WO R L D CL A S S
SPEAKING IS EASY . . . YOU ALREADY KNOW HOW TO DO IT!
By Steve Siebold & Bill Gove
6 Audio Cassettes
This 6-cassette album explains the world-famous PowerBoard system direct from the vault
of the Bill Gove Speech Workshop. This is your only opportunity to hear the PowerBoard
system explained by the great Bill Gove himself; because it was the only recording he ever
made detailing the system. You’ll hear live speeches, in their entirety, Bill Gove made in
sold-out auditoriums around the United States during the 1960s, 70s, 80s and 90s. These
speeches will give you a great feel for what goes into to the making of a world-class
speech, and how you can adapt and upgrade your content and speaking style to do the
same. This album is super-informative and highly entertaining. After you listen to it, you’ll
know exactly why Bill Gove was regarded as the master of masters on the platform.
Order by calling 561.733.9078 or visit www.championsmagazine.com
250
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF TH E WO R L D CL A S S
251
THE BEST OF BILL GOVE
6 Audio CDs
Listen, Laugh and Learn with one of the most celebrated professional speakers and phi-
losophers of all-time: Mr. Bill Gove. This series captures Bill Gove at the most magical
times of his 54-year speaking career. From his famous 1954 sales speech for 13,000 people
at the International Amphitheatre in Chicago . . . to his 1991 Golden Gavel Acceptance
Speech in Atlanta. These speeches are the heart and soul of Bill Gove’s philosophies on
business, love, life and living. You’ll never see the world the same way after you’ve seen
it through the eyes of Bill Gove.
Bill Gove, CSP, CPAE 1912-2001
Bill Gove was known around the world as the Father of the Professional Speaking Indus-
try. He was the rst President of the National Speakers Association, and one of the most
popular speakers of the 20th century. He was inducted into the International Speakers Hall
of Fame in 1975, and honored as the International Speaker of the Year in 1976. Mr. Gove
won the Cavett Award in 1980, (The Oscar of Professional Speaking) and Toastmasters
International’s Golden Gavel Award in 1991. In 1997, he partnered with Steve Siebold to
from the Gove Siebold Group, an international training and consulting rm based in Boyn-
ton Beach, Florida.
Order by calling 561.733.9078 or visit www.bestofbillgove.com
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF TH E WO R L D CL A S S
252
THE ULTIMATE SPEAKING PACKAGE
The Ultimate Speaking Package is for serious and aspiring speakers who want the
very best information ever assembled on public speaking . . . at a VIP price.
The package includes:
Everything You Need To Know About Speaking, by Bill Gove. This 4 DVD album is an
exclusive 3 hour reside chat with the father of professional speaking, Mr. Bill
Gove. Bill offers the tips, techniques, and speaking strategies that made him one
of the most popular professional speakers of the 20th century. This is a behind
the scenes, backstage interview with the master of masters, telling it like it was
and like it is in the world of professional speaking. The stories Bill tells on these
videos are worth their weight in gold. This one of a kind album is a classic and a
must have in your personal library. It’s been sold in 30 countries around the world.
($247.00 Value)
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF TH E WO R L D CL A S S
253
Bill Gove’s Toastmaster’s Golden Gavel Acceptance Speech. This 40-minute DVD cap-
tures Bill Gove at 79 years of age dazzling an audience of 5,000 people at the World Con-
gress Center in Atlanta in 1991. I want you to have this speech to study how Bill
weaved his points and stories together so beautifully that it looked as though he was
simply having a one-on-one conversation with a cherished friend. This DVD will bring
all of the speaking strategies and techniques together for you as you witness Bill Gove
effortlessly using the all tools he taught an entire industry for over 50 years. It’s one
of the funniest speeches you’ll ever see! Another must-have for your speaker’s library.
The Tribute to Bill Gove: A Celebration of the Father of Professional Speaking
(1 hour DVD) Bill Gove passed away on December 9, 2001. On July 17, 2002,
250 of the greatest speakers in the world gathered in Orlando, Florida to pay
tribute to the man and the legend. Bill Gove Speech Workshop graduates Dave Yoho
Sr. and Steve Siebold emceed this event that included comments by Zig Ziglar,
Larry Wilson, and Don Hutson. It also includes excerpts of Bill Gove speaking
in 1967, 1973, 1991, and his nal speech on September 25, 2001. (Priceless)
Order by calling 561.733.9078 or visit www.govesiebold.com
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF TH E WO R L D CL A S S
HOW TO CONQUER THE COLD MARKET . . . In Network Marketing
14 CDs and Workbook
How to Conquer the Cold Market in Network Marketing will teach you who to call, what to
say and how to say it. You’ll get the exact scripts that many of the world’s most successful
distributors use. You’ll learn the delivery techniques of the masters and the mental tough-
ness strategies to implement them.
Conquering the Cold Market means never having to prospect your friends and family again
. . . until you’re successful.
BANNED by Industry leaders for being too strict, too tough, and too demanding for the
average Networker . . . EMBRACED by world-class distributors in 6 countries and 60 dif-
ferent companies.
This program was created for the serious Networker with a burning desire to win.
If you’re tired of running out of prospects, this 14 CD album will teach you the system that
shook the Networking industry for 3 years . . . until it was BLACK-BALLED by industry
leaders who didn’t believe their distributors could handle the truth about what it REALLY
takes to make it in this profession.
Order by calling 561.733.9078 or visit www.govesiebold.com
254
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF TH E WO R L D CL A S S
255
CREATE THE FUTURE
6 DVDs
Your multi million dollar leadership team consists of Bob Proctor, the master of income
acceleration . . . Larry Wilson, leadership guru of the Fortune 500 . . . Bill Gove, the father
of professional speaking . . . and Steve Siebold, mental toughness trainer of champions.
In this ground-breaking program, these world-renowned experts teach you how to apply
the secrets that catapulted them to the pinnacle of their professions -- and how YOU can
apply their collective wisdom to dramatically accelerate the growth of your network mar-
keting business.
Never in the history of network marketing have leaders of this magnitude joined forces to
share their secrets of success – and give YOU the tools necessary to create your future and
become a multi million dollar leader in the eld of network marketing.
Order by calling 561.733.9078 or visit www.govesiebold.com
177 MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE WO R L D CL A S S
