Become a Game Changer.
More often than not, athletes tend to criticize themselves and define their identity through perceived failures, rather than using these moments to access a higher version of themselves. What do I mean by that? Every moment that doesn’t go as planned in competition is an opportunity to explore deeper, to understand their inner workings a little more, and to fully embrace their capacity to CREATE. Being a game-changer is a choice. It’s completely possible to transform a self-perception as an athlete by realizing that you are in the driver’s seat—and you are the one creating your path to success.
In my work with athletes, I’ve found that one of the most critical—and often underrated—tools is narrative: the story the athlete tells themselves. It’s underutilized because athletes are often told to do more if they want to improve. But what if we focused on creating the right mindset so that what they do becomes sustainable and lands in the right place mentally? Narrative is essential because it can make or break a career—and, more importantly, it can make or break a person. Athletes are people, and the work to create a healthy, successful self-narrative is the foundation upon which any athlete can build lasting success. The story they tell themselves will either set them free or keep them stuck.
Whether you're a coach or an athlete, there are three key elements I’m going to share that will help you create a pathway in your career that allows you to be a game-changer (turning any moment into a winning moment) and create more opportunities for the tangible results you want to see:
1. Willingness
To become a game-changer, both as an individual athlete and as part of a team, you need to adopt the mindset of a game-changer. Being a pivotal player is a choice. By choosing to be a game changer, you’re committing to rewiring your default mental settings. This means assessing those defaults: What are the internal responses you fall back on when things get tough? Is it self-doubt, self-criticism, or self-abandonment? If those are your go-to settings, how can you expect to progress if you’re constantly neglecting yourself along the way?
Choosing the path of a game-changer also means actively committing to your approach. How are you creating a system that keeps you engaged? How do you plan to handle high-pressure moments and still stand by your side through it all? Have you established active systems to stay centered when you need it the most? Best practices lead to best outcomes.
2. Risk-Taking
If you want to play big, you need to be willing to take risks. This includes risking older versions of yourself to make space for a version of you that can truly hold the success you desire. You must be willing to move beyond your ego from time to time, especially when you fail. Big success is often substantiated by failure, and failure often leads to strength. Consider any product you use that works exceptionally well—it reached that point only after going through trial and error. Failure shows us the way forward to improvement. Learn to be okay with it.
Taking risks is part of the package deal when it comes to becoming an influential athlete. Get comfortable with operating in the zone of expansion and growth, knowing that it won’t always feel glorious. But remember, you are on your way to great moments and key outcomes in your plan. As you take risks, stay focused on the bigger picture. The more elastic your approach, the faster you can move through the setbacks, absorb the lessons, and create the outcomes you deserve. Let’s go!
3. Knowing Yourself
Nothing and no one can take away your perception. It’s intangible and completely constructed by you—meaning you can use this powerful tool right in the middle of competition. The best part is, even if you’re not fully aware of it, you are always choosing your perception. So why not choose to focus on the things that align with the direction you're moving in?
What have you been holding on to that no longer serves you, like limiting beliefs? How can you open your perception to include more of what will make you better, freer, and more powerful in being your true self? Being self resourced is all about allowing your confidence to stem from the deepest parts of you, oftentimes the places within that nobody can see. This is quiet confidence (does not need external validation), and this is the kind of confidence that leads to your competitive edge.
By embracing these three elements—willingness, risk-taking, and knowing yourself—you are choosing to step into the driver’s seat and create a successful career according to you. Each moment high and low, each choice, is an opportunity to elevate your mindset and your game.