“To have it when you need it most you must practice it when you need it least.”
Success comes from consistently executing basics with precision, building strong habits and routines, and developing a “next play” mindset that quickly moves past mistakes to what you do next, according to Alan Stein, Jr., a keynote speaker, author, and former elite basketball performance coach.
From Stephen Curry to Simone Biles… here are 12 key mindsets of the world’s top athletes, writes Alan Stein, Jr, in a post on X:
1) They never get bored with the basics. They work towards mastery of the fundamentals… during the Unseen Hours… every single day.
2) They earn their confidence through repetition. They know that repetition is not punishment but rather the most proven form of learning and skill acquisition of all time.
3) They remain humble and grateful. No matter good they are… they can always get better. This allows them to stay open to coaching and willing to accept feedback.
4) They have a clear vision of what they want to achieve. However, despite being goal driven, they focus heavily on habits and the process. They spend minimal time wishing, wanting, and hoping. Instead, they work to develop the daily habits, behaviors, routines, and micro-skills needed to progressively inch toward their goal.
5) They make their preparation their separation. They maximize the Unseen Hours – the time behind the curtain when the lights are off and the arenas are empty. They understand that ‘To have it when you need it most you must practice it when you need it least.’
6) They don’t fear mistakes – they embrace them! They understand that mistakes are part of the growth process. They acknowledge that ‘Success comes from good decisions. Good decisions come from experience. Experience comes from bad decisions and learning from mistakes.’
7) They control the controllables. They put their focus, energy, and attention into their own effort and attitude – and they let everything else go. They don’t allow the environment or circumstances to dictate how they show up.
8) They quickly move to the Next Play. When things don’t go their way, when they make a mistake, or when life is less than preferred… they quickly wipe the slate clean and move on!
9) They make those around them better. They lead by example, hold those they care about accountable, and live by the mantra that a candle loses nothing by lighting another candle.
10) They are relentlessly consistent and consistently relentless. They uphold a high standard of excellence even when they don’t feel like, when they don’t want to, or when it’s not convenient.
11) They have an attitude of extreme ownership. They take full responsibility for everything in their life. They don’t blame, complain, or make excuses.
12) They embrace pressure. Pressure is a privilege. They feel stress and pressure just like everyone else, they simply manage it more effectively be viewing it as a privilege.
Well, there it is. A blueprint for performing at your best. And you don’t need to be Stephen Curry or Simone Biles to live these 12 mindsets – they are readily available and accessible to you right now.
But don’t be tricked by their simplicity. Each of these mindsets is basic in premise, but very challenging to execute consistently. Remember, just because something is basic… it doesn’t mean that it’s easy!
