DEFEATING THE INSTINCT TO SLACK OFF

"There is something that can happen to every athlete, every human being -- it's the instinct to slack off, to give in to the pain, to give less than your best...the instinct to hope to win through luck or your opponents' not doing their best, instead of going to the limit and past your limit, where victory is always to be found.  Defeating those negative instincts that are out to defeat us is the difference between winning and losing, and we face that battle every day of our lives."

Jesse Owens, Olympic Champion

KEEP THE WINNING SPIRIT ALIVE

There will be days when it is difficult to muster enough to be our best.  We may be tired or frustrated or in a bad mood.  There may be unforeseen circumstances and distractions, setbacks and injuries.  Professional or personal issues may arise.  Nevertheless, these are the times when it is most important to push onward and stay focused.  We do not want to give in to a belief that we are victims of circumstances.  Even in our darkest hours and toughest challenges, we must give it everything we have if we wish to succeed.

The winning spirit is kept alive by living and performing in the moment, visualizing success, finding the support of a coach and inner circle, making a personal commitment to excellence, living a discipline life, affirming our truest values -- all while believing in our ability to achieve our goal.

From "The Winning Spirit" by Joe Montana

WORK ALLOWS YOU TO OBTAIN AND SUSTAIN CONFIDENCE

"Confidence is the most important single factor in this game, and no matter how great your natural talent, there is only one way to obtain and sustain it: work."

-Jack Nicklaus

LT ON GIVING BACK AND HIS WORK ETHIC

Some good insight on what makes LaDainian Tomlinson special.

THE DRIVE TO IMPROVE

The following is an excerpt from "Meek's Little Book of Hope" written by WNBA point guard Temeka Johnson. The book is compilation of stories and quotes designed to motivate and is due out this fall.

Michael Jordan changed the game for a lot of athletes. Immediately after winning his first championship, he went right back in the gym to work on his game. If the greatest player to ever lace them up worked that hard, what are the rest of the players going to expect?

Work ethic typically comes from within, but it’s never too late to learn. For me, the drive to become successful is also based on my will to win. If I want to win championships, I have to become better – yearly. Even after winning my first championship in the WNBA, I knew that more players and teams would be working harder to stop us from winning another one. I hired a personal trainer to get even better. I worked extra before and after practices, as well as before and after games.

For many, it’s not about just beating your opponent, it’s about being the best you can possibly be. That equates to every walk of life. If you’re a student, it’s about studying until you know everything, not just knowing enough to pass a test. If you’re at your job, it’s about putting in long hours and taking ownership in your work, not about proving something to your boss or co-worker. It’s your internal drive that you should be focused on. That’s what helps me get better every year. On those days when you think you’ve done enough, this chapter will help you push through and accomplish more.

HOW TO SEPARATE YOURSELF FROM OTHER PLAYERS

"The guys who separate themselves are those who are able to take what appear to be setbacks and stay prepared, keep working."

DEREK FISHER

WHEN A PLAYER IS MADE

"The time when there is no

one there to feel sorry for you

 or to cheer for you is

when a player is made."

-Tim Duncan

GOING THE EXTRA MILE

Practice is finished, but Patrick Peterson isn’t.

He walks across the green turf of LSU’s indoor practice facility, into a corner of the massive building next to the north end zone where a row of blocking pads are attached to the wall.

Knees bent, he locks into ready position as though the pads are a real live opposing receiver and begins his work. He slides from one pad to the next, back and forth, his arms firing out like pistons, slapping them like they’ve hurled an insult his way.

Bap...bap...bap...bap...bap.

No one is around. No coach is in his ear imploring him to work harder. No one has to tell him anything.

The voice is in his head. The voice telling him that it isn’t just talent alone that will take him where he wants to go.

It’s sweat. It’s the extra mile. It’s every day.

Bap...bap...bap....bap...bap.

“It comes from my father,” Peterson said. “He always put in my head that you’ve got to be better than the next man. While I’m working, someone else is sleeping. I definitely took that to heart. That helped me be the player I am today, but there are definitely things I can sharpen up.

“I tell myself, I want to be the best cornerback to ever come out of not only LSU, but the whole NCAA. That was my goal coming into college. I believe I have achieved some of the goals I have set.”

Read Scott Rabalais' complete article at: http://bit.ly/gEha9f

SHANE BATTIER: I AM WHAT I LEARN