On Saturday night David The Tuamaninator Tua beat Shane The Mountain Man Cameron a few seconds into the second round of an eagerly awaited heavy weight boxing match. Some will say the job was done before the end of the first round!

We witnessed a brief glimpse of incredible punching power and domination[from Tua] over his opponent. This surprised me as I reckon Cameron is a much better fighter than he was allowed to show on the night.

Both boxers had trained very hard to be in excellent condition for this fight.

‘If I lose because I didn’t give it my best………’ David Tua

What was the difference.? Why was one fighter so dominant. I am no boxing expert, but I am sure this was not a mismatch, not a fight just for ’show’.  The difference might come down to belief. Both contenders of course talked up their chances, both told us they would be the winner. Given that both fighters were in very very good condition and both had developed strategies to offset the other’s strengths and weaknesses, how is it that on the night the winner seemed to make victory look almost too easy?

I am sure you have seen this at other sporting events. Often the superior team somehow lets the other seemingly weaker team beat them. This has happened with the All Blacks and the Silver Ferns this year.

Both teams have played well below their potential game after game  only to rise like a Phoenix from the ashes and put on a display that is truly inspiring and won convincingly.

It is like they have woken up from a state of hibernation, too late for the series win though!

Life is like this too!

Deep down you know you have the talent and the ability to excel to achieve outstanding results but you don’t. Why is that?

Maybe you do not believe.

Maybe you have lost focus.

A useful tool that helps is to ‘remember a time when……..‘ you did succeed, you felt great, anything was possible. Getting in touch with your feelings, how you felt at that time is a great way to get back on the horse and ride to success. This is one of the self development secrets to getting what you want. To becoming all that you can be.

Just like the super sports stars and teams your chances of success are as much a mental exercise as anything else [assuming of course you have done the physical preparation!].

Being a member of a top sports team is as much an exercise in personal development as an individual who aspires to be, do, and have more success and happiness in his or her life.

Shane Cameron has said he will be back. He is disappointed, who wouldn’t be?

Next time Shane will do whatever it takes to ensure that he does not lose.

So will you.

Remember the Zen saying: ‘Knock down seven times, get up eight!

P.S. The annual Bathurst 1000 motor race is on this weekend. There will be approximately 29 teams attempting to redress their bitter disappointments from last year! They will be prepared. What will be the difference between the winning team and the rest?

Luck?

Unlikely.

Doing better or being better is what coaching is all about.

So how you do or be better?

One good way is to engage the services of a Life Coach or Mentor.

Another way is to be open to suggestions from friends and colleagues. It’s a great irony don’t you think that ‘you’ are very very good at pointing out the faults, weaknesses and traits of everyone but yourselves!

Somehow you just don’t see where or how you can make positive change for the better for yourself.

I had this experience the other day.

I met my friend Bill for a coffee. Actually Bill had a business proposition to put to me and, as is the way of the world these days, we agreed to meet in a cafe to discuss his proposal as well as swap a few ideas.

Bill is a very successful entrepreneur. Therefore by default he is very creative and observant.

During the earlier part of our meeting Bill gave me his views on this website, what he felt is good, what could be improved.

I listened and I took notes. I could have chosen to become defensive and just clam up but I didn’t.

I’m glad that I listened.

Bill reckons the word clarity [through clarity comes change] is not very powerful. A word like Focus might be better.

My header graphic has a man leaping into the air. Where’s the female and child Bill asks? I might be limiting my appeal to only men because of this.

I need a logo. I now have a magnifying glass. This could go with the word focus.

Hmmn – I’m starting to take notice. Perhaps he has a point.

Bill went on to give me suggestions regarding testimonials.

What about my business card?

And so on.

I might adopt some or all of Bill’s ideas. I am thankful for his honest and constructive ideas.

Even the coach can learn stuff!

Because the reality is that life is a process. The only constant is change and surely is the rate of change accelerating for all of you.

How you cope and prepare for this is up to you. What action will you take to be or do better?

So thanks Bill.

Be the change you wish to see in the world. Mahatma Ghandi

Watch this space and see what changes are made.

P.S. Bill calls himself a ‘changeovator‘ who is setting up ‘friendchises‘ for online clubs of terrific people.