Ask Yourself This Question…
Do YOU Have WHAT it takes?
WHAT does it take? Let’s start off by defining this ominous term. Growing up playing hockey at many different levels and making my way through the ranks from minor hockey to college and then professional, I have seen a lot of good hockey players, and a few exceptional ones. The difference between them was not their skill level. Some naturally skilled players won’t make it past Junior B, while seemingly mediocre ones will skyrocket into stardom. You may ask yourself why? Instead, ask yourself WHAT.
Sacrifice and Discipline
Don’t get me wrong, sacrifice and discipline alone won’t fast track you to the NHL, but if you want to be successful in your hockey career and make it to the highest level possible with the talent you were given, mental strength and stamina will give you the edge that you need to power through fatigue, injury, temptation, and self-doubt. Even though you may possess or achieve these two traits independently of one another, they are both needed to help get to where you want to go.
So let’s identify what Sacrifice and Discipline are. The dictionary definition of sacrifice is ”something given up or lost.” You might be asking yourself, well how is that going to help me make it to the next level? Before I answer that, let’s find out what discipline means. Discipline is defined as “a way of behaving that shows a willingness to obey rules or orders.” We all have goals; whether they include making it into Juniors, getting a scholarship to a recognized school, or even striving for the NHL, but along our journey, we will have many temptations. They can be as small as choosing the right foods to eat to fuel our bodies, or as big as going to that “epic” party everyone is talking about. When we train as hard as we do and spend as much time in the rink and gym as we do, we need the proper rest and nutrients for optimal recovery. Making the sacrifices to do what is right for us (even if we might not want to in the moment) will help us obtain our goals. Having the discipline to stay on track and follow the plan we have laid out for ourselves will reap rewards that far outweigh our daily temptations. I’m not suggesting that you neglect your social life, but be aware of how it affects your progress and surround yourself with the right people and environments that will support your ambitions.
- Don’t drink away your calories or party away your sleep
- Fuel your body with the right foods
- Follow your performance plan and track your progress
- Doing the right thing at the moment that will help you achieve your goals
Success doesn’t happen overnight, it’s the little things we do day in and day out that allow us to achieve the goals we have set out for ourselves. Make the sacrifice now so you can have what you desire later!
Remember: Elite players schedule their day around their workouts while average players plan their workouts around their day.