Each and every time you step on the court or walk in the weight room, you have a choice to make. You can choose to work hard or you can choose to not work hard. Not working hard is actually a choice. You are 100% in control of your effort and your attitude.
For this off-season to be as productive as possible, you need to choose to work hard consistently.
You must choose get better every day… even when no one else is around.
I want to jump higher. I want to gain 10 lbs. I want to be a better shooter. I want to play at the next level.
Merely wanting it is not enough. Everyone wants it. You must make the sacrifices necessary to make it happen. You must train with purpose, train with effort, and train with consistency to make your goals a reality.
Let’s say your goal is to gain 10 lbs. this off-season. If I weighed you on April 1st and told you on September 1st I would weigh you again, and if you were 10 lbs. heavier I would give you $1,000,000 in cash, would you accept my offer?
Of course you would!
Do you think you would achieve your goal? Absolutely! In fact, I guarantee you would. You would be so focused and determined you would prob-ably gain twice that. You would be so passionate about achieving your goal that you would attract support from everyone around you.
How can I be so sure?
Because your commitment would be unstoppable! You would go beyond just wanting it and you would make it happen.
You need to find a way to tap into this type of conviction even when there isn’t a million dollar prize involved. You need to approach your training with this type of mindset.
Unfortunately, there is a little voice that occasionally tries to derail you…
“I don’t want to work out today. I will get up extra shots tomorrow. I will lift weights tomorrow.”
If you let that little voice win, you won’t be successful. Trust me.
Staying committed is not easy. It’s OK if you need some help. In fact, I recommend you get some help. You need to find someone who pushes you to be the best you can be. Someone that holds you accountable. Someone that motivates you, inspires you, and encourages you. Some-one that tells you what you need to hear – not what you want to hear. Someone that gives you energy. Someone who supports and strengthens your commitment.
Do you have a person like this in your life?
If so, make sure you tell them how much you appreciate you them.
If not, you need to find a person like that ASAP.
Train hard. Fuel smart. Get better.
Alan Stein http://www.StrongerTeam.com
Alan Stein is the owner of Stronger Team and the strength & conditioning coach for the nationally renowned, Nike elite DeMatha Cath-olic High School basketball program. Alan brings a wealth of valuable experience to his training arsenal from over a decade of exten-sive work with elite high school, college, and NBA players.
