The Thoughts From An Elite Performer
The Thoughts From An Elite Performer
By Master Chief Stephen White, USN S.E.A.L.S.
Here is an excerpt from a talk at the ISCA Clinic this past week in Clearwater Beach, Florida. Does this resonate with coaches and athletes?
I had to envision a dream.
The dream of being a champion. A master passion that governed me.
I had to discipline my body to do what I did not feel like.
Feelings were submitted to vision.
I had to co-exist with discomfort and being stretched.
Physical and emotional toughness were requirements.
I had to submit to authority… that I often didn’t care for.
I had to be a team man.
I had to bend with others, encourage others, and recognize them.
I had to do short term things that had no immediate recompense in order to attain to an ultimate success.
I had to master certain skills.
I had to maintain poise when hopelessly beaten just to keep a standard
I had to come back after extreme discouragement.
I had to finish… the evolution/practice, the game, the season, the scholarship. I could not quit.
I had to follow rules that other people didn’t because I wanted something beyond me.
I had to do something with excellence just because of personal pride in who I was.
I had to represent a unit/school and a group of people with distinction.
I had to master certain skills.
I had to maintain poise when hopelessly beaten just to keep a standard
I had to come back after extreme discouragement.
I had to finish… the evolution/practice, the game, the season, the scholarship.
I could not quit.
I had to follow rules that other people didn’t because I wanted something beyond me.
I had to do something with excellence just because of personal pride in who I was.
I had to represent a unit/school and a group of people with distinction.
Live higher than the crowd. Have a moral standard that sets you apart.
Achieve. Let each year take you intellectually higher and physically higher and farther. Let no day/week/year pass without a sense of growth.
Be a team man able to work under authority.
Live on purpose. Not just on passions and instincts.
I had to envision a dream.
The dream of being a champion. A master passion that governed me.
I had to discipline my body to do what I did not feel like.
Feelings were submitted to vision.
I had to co-exist with discomfort and being stretched.
Physical and emotional toughness were requirements.
I had to submit to authority… that I often didn’t care for.
I had to be a team man.
I had to bend with others, encourage others, and recognize them.
I had to do short term things that had no immediate recompense in order to attain to an ultimate success.
I had to master certain skills.
I had to maintain poise when hopelessly beaten just to keep a standard
I had to come back after extreme discouragement.
I had to finish… the evolution/practice, the game, the season, the scholarship. I could not quit.
I had to follow rules that other people didn’t because I wanted something beyond me.
I had to do something with excellence just because of personal pride in who I was.
I had to represent a unit/school and a group of people with distinction.
I had to master certain skills.
I had to maintain poise when hopelessly beaten just to keep a standard
I had to come back after extreme discouragement.
I had to finish… the evolution/practice, the game, the season, the scholarship.
I could not quit.
I had to follow rules that other people didn’t because I wanted something beyond me.
I had to do something with excellence just because of personal pride in who I was.
I had to represent a unit/school and a group of people with distinction.
Live higher than the crowd. Have a moral standard that sets you apart.
Achieve. Let each year take you intellectually higher and physically higher and farther. Let no day/week/year pass without a sense of growth.
Be a team man able to work under authority.
Live on purpose. Not just on passions and instincts.
