Have you left your comfort zone in order to better perform?

I was inspired and touched by the magnificent opening ceremony of the 21st Winter Olympic Games! I could feel and admire the talent, effort, perseverance and respect for everyone in the amphitheatre and I felt great compassion towards the Georgian athlete who had a tragic and abrupt end to his path to success.

But more importantly, how can we not admire the determination and pride that we can see spread across the faces of all the participants and their parents!
What touches me deeply is hearing the testimonials from the athletes who are all strangely driven to exceed themselves by what seems like a disease demanding success!

I always said that my children were infected by a severe virus to perform as they did at such a high level. I did not always understand their motivation to suffer in order to succeed.
But body and spirit driven by good basic technique seem to adapt to and tolerate the worst of impacts and pains that the ordinary person cannot possibly imagine.

I am taking skiing lessons now even though I have been skiing for over 40 years and recently my coach took it upon himself to break the bad habits embedded in me over the years! He thinks I ski too much on my heels, that I am not centered on my skis and worse that I don't lean forward enough which totally terrifies me especially going down a steep slope!
He tried hard to convince me that with better technique and more importantly, a little more confidence in him, I will ski better and with less pain at the end of the day!  After hearing that last part I decided to trust him and leave my comfort zone...and it worked!
My progress was incredible over a short period of time because now I ski with more control and I have more fun!

This is probably the first step to success. Step out of your comfort zone and leave your old techniques that you thought were effective behind. Staying with those old patterns, though comfortable, hold us back from advancing to another performance level and from enjoying more success.

But the second step to success was well explained by Jennefer Botterill, a hockey player from the Canadian hockey team. Her father, Cal Botterill a great sports psychologist recognized across the country, said to her "In life, there are two approaches to winning: the one where you say "I must win" or the one where you say "I would like to win.""  When "I must" is involved, it becomes an obligation and not a pleasure. When "I would like" is used, the pleasure aspect is not only included but the successful accomplishment as well. These are the two approaches available to you to achieve your Realty-Success!

We all should be encouraged by our athletes to excel with pride! Take part in Canada's-Success! ;-)

I hope you take the road to success and never forget that you are a good salesperson and be proud of it. You are honest and motivated. Do not let anyone believe otherwise, especially not yourself.
 I wish you REALTY-SUCCESS!!
Sylvia Perreault