7 Habits of Highly Effective Athletes

1)  Perfect Practice Makes Perfect - Gregg Troy, my college swim coach from the University of Florida, said "perfect practice makes perfect" what felt like at least a dozen times every single workout. At first, I brushed it off as just another catch phrase from the ole swim coach but at some point I began to read between the lines … if you just go through the motions at practice everyday then you will just go through the motions at the big show. Do everything as perfectly as you can day in and day out and you will be at the top of your game come time to compete. It’s that simple.

2)  Keep it Simple - Don't make things more complicated than they are. Most of what we deal with in life, including sports, is actually fairly simple if you slow down or, better yet, stop and think about it.

3)  Find Balance - Too much of one thing can make anyone go crazy. Finding the right balance between your sport, family, friends, pets, social activities and hobbies is crucial to your sanity and ultimately your success.

4)  Don’t be Afraid to Fail - Yep, that's right, I said it … FAIL. Go ahead, I dare you! If you’ve never failed, until you do, you won't succeed. Hate to say it, but it's the truth … it even makes me cringe to write it! - "Those who have no problems never eventuate to accomplish anything, Those who face the most challenges often create the most value."

5)  Remember You Goals - Write down questions your goals are answers to and post them where you can see them. Having goals is one thing, but forcing yourself to recall them from memory regularly and putting them where you can see them every single day, several times a day, will engrave them in your mind … think of it as mental muscle memory.

6)  Ask Questions - just like in school, in athletics there are no dumb questions. Ask coaches, mentors, role models, older athletes, etc. anything you want to know: knowledge is power.

7)  Have Confidence – Last but not least, what are we without confidence? Not a whole lot. It’s the foundation of everything we are and everything we will become so BELIEVE in yourself and have confidence but don’t go searching for it, it only comes from within.

-By guest blogger Caroline Stilwell Burckle