Owed or Earned?

It's interesting when I watch the highest competitive goalkeepers in the world create amazing moments in high pressure games. Rarely do I see pageantry, no showboating. What I do see is an outward venting of rage, a primal scream, or on the flip side a cold steely glance projected toward his or her team mates in the effort of what they have pulled off. Goalkeepers are different in that way. Therein lays a lesson in humility though. They have earned the moment, and they own it. 

The action it takes to win a plaudit, praise, a title, national championship etc is work. That is, action that leads to positive momentum. I call it the "in between" work you do, the things no one else sees, the hard work that is done behind closed doors. Don't expect praise, entitlement etc, Earn it... and then, Own it.

When I train a goalkeeper it's predominantly silence during the session, except for some loud excitable and guttural acknowledgement from myself as repetitive actions come together to form a great moment during training. It's vocal recognition for work, hard work at that. The guttural voice also kicks in when I have to get my client back into shape, to increase the intensity without any negative energy. It's about upping the intensity, always forward, always intense. Positive, primal energy.

As my clients and I work together in the park, and they have put all their energy into the session, having been taxed from the hard work I demand, I ask them to look up...I ask, "What do you see?"....the client glances up and around the park, hands on knees, chest heaving, sweat covered..the reply is generally, "Nothing", or "No One". I answer, "Correct. No one else is here at this moment doing what you are doing right now". Earn it, Own it...in silence. No high praise, no excitement, just work. 

The above scenario is how I help the client 'internalize' their hard work. Work rate and intensity is the catalyst for physical and mental success, and success is earned, you are not owed anything, from anyone. Doors may open, but once open, it's up to you to run the gauntlet that awaits. If you succeed navigating the gauntlet, once you have climbed to the next level of your ability, own your hard work with humility, grace and inner strength, these three things create presence. And presence (especially for a goalkeeper) commands respect. Humility and inner strength, when it is earned, forms the platform for continued and pragmatic success. 

Following are some points to leverage for continued improvement while earning and owning the effort of your hard work. 

• Do the 'in between' work. Leverage the effect of compounded improvement.  Your days off should never be days off, they should be days for active recovery, or continued technical or physical improvement. Do the work others aren't doing, while they rest and think about excellence, you are working toward excellence. Earn the excellence in the work that no one sees you do...the 'in between' work. Once you Earn it. Own it.
• Internalize 'hard work'. Finish each session in reflection, and internalize all the good work you have done. Create positive mental cues for positive hard work. Build a highlight reel of positive mental takeaways in your mind from each session, come back to those moments when you need them.  Write down notes in a journal and keep track of your daily training regime, tracking how you feel, what you need to work on and what you did that stood out. The more you write down and track your training, the more you own each action and session. Hard work then becomes a conscious action, and a daily habit.
• Train intensely and with 'intent'. Half ass work does not cut it. No drill should be enacted with a minimum of effort. Every drill has to be short, sharp and full of powerful energy. Focus on 'intensity', put an 'intent' behind every action you enact during your drills. Build an intense tempo in each drill, and look for the tempo that you create to be focused and delivered with intent...and intensity. 

So are you owed? No. Earn it. When you earn it...Own it!