Hard work, first impressions, missing out and changing viewpoints

sent by Nick Grantham | 23rd November 2021

"Mankind can only enjoy that which is achieved through hard work and toil. The harder you work for something, the more you enjoy it. The hard is what makes it great."

Barkley Marathon Competitor

share this on twitter

I'm not sure a race based on a prison escape that has seen only ten finishers in its first twenty-five years and is billed as the race that 'eats its young' sounds like much fun. Still, having watched a documentary about the race, the race's difficulty certainly makes it great. High-performance sport can be a challenging environment to break into and an even tougher industry to sustain a successful career in. I don't subscribe to the school of thought that constantly bangs on about hustle and espouses the virtue of the grind and long hours to be worn as badges of honour. However, I am on board with the fact that life's achievements, big or small, that feel special generally come about due to hard work and toil.

Source: Puke and Rally by Dr Rob Bell


"When someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time."

Maya Angelou

share this on twitter

Maybe. First impressions do count, and more often than not, your first impression is the right one. However, I've grown to realise that sometimes my first impression of someone may be clouded by situational factors. So I tend to cut people some slack and give them the chance to show me two or three times who they are before I make my mind up.

Source: Women Don't Owe You Pretty by Florence Given


"Remember that not getting what you want is sometimes a wonderful stroke of luck."

Dalai Lama

share this on twitter

In 1998 I applied for a role working for the British Olympic Association. I really wanted that job. Unfortunately, I didn't even get called for an interview! But not getting what I wanted meant I had an opportunity to work at Lilleshall Sports Injury and Human Performance Centre, which proved to be the launchpad to my high-performance sports career. You may not secure a place at the university you want. Your boss may overlook you for promotion. You may find yourself working in a sport that doesn't flick your switch. Missing out could actually be a stroke of luck in disguise.

Source: Dalai Lama


"Our viewpoint changes depending upon where we stand."

C.S. Lewis

share this on twitter

The lightbulb flickered into life back in 2005 and has been burning brightly for me ever since. The lightbulb in question is the realisation that I have to understand the athletes, coaches or colleagues viewpoints if I am to stand a chance of understanding and influencing their behaviours or decision making processes.

Source: C.S. Lewis


Join Me

Thanks for reading. You can get more insights from my popular email newsletter. Each week I share performance insights in my exclusive For the Win newsletter. Sign up with your email now and join us.

Join Now

P.S. Follow me on Twitter and Instagram.