First off, I want to congratulate each and every student who was promoted in our most recent round of testing. It was awesome!
Given that the summer (like the winter holidays) is one of the prime times for people to “fall off the wagon” in terms of self-discipline — not just in martial arts, but in general — I also thought this would be a good opportunity to talk a bit about success.
Let me start by saying that there IS such a thing as a “success mindset.” It is a very distinct way of thinking. And by success, it could mean any area (such as the journey of mastering a martial art, competition, being a better parent, etc.), not just material success.
Some people are successful in a certain area due to a number of factors, which may include talent and a measure of luck. But in the majority of cases, there is a method to the madness…. Hard work is a huge factor, but even hard work without a true success mindset won’t necessarily do the trick of getting you what you want.
Success-oriented thinking has much more to do with the standards you set for yourself — what you accept of yourself — than it does narrow-minded ambition. I would never advocate being so driven by ambition that you miss out on living life to its fullest (whatever that means for you) and enjoying the relationships and experiences it has to offer.
However, using martial arts as an example, how many people come in “guns blazing” and talking about what they want to get out of training, only to slide out of routine as soon as the newness wears off or the “next best thing” comes into view?
If that is someone’s tendency in martial arts, it is happening in other aspects of life as well. Trust me.
And it’s a choice.
Don’t get me wrong, there are times when outside influences and circumstances can knock us for a loop. The difference is that when success-minded people get bounced off track, they pick themselves up, shake it off and get back on board as soon as they can….
Determined to do it better than before, and to live a fuller life than before they were sidetracked.
Others make excuses.
At Nexus, we have a very unique mix of great things going on… world class training with a real system for getting people results (if they put in the time and energy), along with an awesome atmosphere.
As Eric Roderick wrote on our blog the other day, everyone is respected and valued here regardless of age or rank, and a lot of real friendships have been made within the school.
We have changed lives, and of that I’m more proud than anything else.
But the fact remains — we can only take you as far as you are willing to take yourself!
From the very beginning of founding Nexus, I wanted to give others a taste of the same love for the arts, and the experiences and self-knowledge that comes with the process of learning and mastering them.
And beyond that, I wanted to ensure that what you learn on the mat — whether you’re six years old or sixty — translates into a positive, success-oriented mindset that you take with you into every aspect of your life!
A big part of the equation is honesty and personal responsibility. Successful people take responsibility for their behavior and their goals.
When they have something they want — that will enrich their lives and/or the lives of those around them — they put in the work, whatever it takes.
They deal with conditions, not excuses.
They invest in their betterment and education.
I could go on, but you get the picture. And a big part of cultivating a successful mindset is taking an inventory of ourselves and seeing where we are coming up a little short and making the necessary adjustments to grow as an individual and be your best!
People say they’re too busy to make it to train, but they still make time to play video games.
They say they want to be a champion, but they won’t put in the work.
They say they can’t afford classes, but they somehow come up with the cash to buy an iPad and drink all weekend with their friends.
I’m not speaking about anyone in particular.
I am only interested in doing my job as a coach and educator, to help everyone reach their goals and ultimately be happy. And sometimes that means we need to be “reacquainted” with our goals.
Whether you compete or not, you’re an adult student or your child is in the program, we at Nexus are a TEAM. With a success-minded Team comes the strength and motivation to evolve. And we want nothing less than a culture of success!
So if you’ve been “slacking” a bit, take a moment to think back to what you wanted out of the program (for yourself or your child), the benefits you’re looking for, and what drew you to training and how you felt when it was all brand new.
Time to get back on the horse. No excuses! We are here to help!
-Stephen Whittier
