The Fastest Path to Success: Attack Your Weaknesses Head-On
Most players chase success by doubling down on what already feels good; they do their favorite drills, easy reps, skills they can nail in their sleep.
That’s comfort, not growth.
If you want to level up fast, you need to hunt down the things that make you squirm and turn them into strengths.
Below are 6 areas you need to focus on if you want to have true success!
1. Why Your Brain Tells You to Run
Your brain’s top job is survival, not improvement.
When a task feels uncomfortable, your nervous system fires off warning flares:
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“Too hard—skip it.”
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“People will see me fail—avoid it.”
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“I’m bad at this—do something easier.”
That reaction isn’t failure; it’s your learning zone activating. New neural pathways (neuroplasticity) form only when you push past what’s familiar. Think of it as construction noise, it’s loud and necessary!
2. The Buffalo Mindset
When a storm rolls across the prairie, cows run away from it and stay in the bad weather longer.
Buffalo run through the storm—shorter pain, quicker relief.
Be the buffalo.
- Face the drill you fear.
- Lean into the discomfort.
- Get through the “storm” faster, and come out stronger on the other side.
3. Discomfort Builds Resilience
I asked a pro I work with why he does a “hard thing” first thing every single day.
His answer: “Because the NHL season is a 100-game storm (including playoffs). And I can’t afford to be soft when it hits.”
Your storm might be tryouts, a playoff push, or making the jump to AAA. Either way, the formula is the same:
Hard thing today → Bigger capacity tomorrow → Competitive edge all season.
4. Five Ways to Spot Your Weaknesses
- Drills you skip or only “half-do.”
- Feedback you avoid because it stings.
- Exercises you hate (single-leg work, mobility, upper-body strength).
- Areas where teammates out-perform you.
- Skills you haven’t improved in months despite lots of reps (your intention is probably low during these reps).
Where there’s the most resistance, there’s the biggest opportunity for a breakthrough.
5. Turn Weakness Into a Weapon (Action Plan)
| Step | What to Do | Why It Works |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Name it. | Write down one weakness you’ve been dodging. | Clarity kills excuses. |
| 2. Schedule it. | Put that exact drill/exercise at the start of your next 3 workouts. | Hard things first = guaranteed reps. |
| 3. Seek feedback. | Ask a coach or teammate to film or watch your form. | External eyes speed up correction. |
| 4. Track the reps. | Log sets, holds, times—whatever measures progress. | Data > feelings. |
| 5. Celebrate micro-wins. | First perfect rep? Fewer mistakes? Note it. | Small victories fuel momentum. |
6. Reframe Failure
Feeling slow, shaky, or awkward isn’t proof you’re failing,
it’s proof you’re rewiring your body for something new. And this is the sign of success!
“This feels bad because I’m getting better.”
Repeat that until the urge to quit fades.
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