Several years ago I had an enlightening sport psychology conversation with a very successful and well known coach (and former Olympian) – we talked about many things that day, most notably the variables that he felt most impacted athletic success. Aside from the obvious answer of having natural talent, the coach went on to talk about his views on things like mental toughness, intrinsic motivation (or the desire to be the very best for personal reasons), focus, and resiliency. All really great stuff, but then the coach mentioned the “I-beam test” and the importance of having passion, purpose, and conviction.
So what is the I-beam test you might ask? The way the coach described it to me was like this — imagine if you were standing on the 100th floor of a building with only an I-beam connecting you to the building 50 yards across the way. There are no safety nets below you, and to cross the narrow I-beam would be an incredible risk of your life. Using this scenario, what would need to be on the other side of the I-beam to motivate you to cross over to the other building?
Athletes will answer this question in different ways, and the things that motivate one person might not be a motivator for the next person. For some athletes, seeing a championship on the other side of the I-beam is more than enough to prompt the athlete to begin the dangerous journey between the two buildings. Of course, there are no right or wrong answers to this question, but it does make you think if nothing else.
Using a second example to illustrate the importance of conviction, I recall another conversation I had years ago with a former world champion boxer and the answer he gave me when I asked him what advice he gives kids who want to go into boxing. As we all know, boxing is a tough sport, and it can also be a debilitating sport as evidenced by the fact that some boxers have died while fighting, while countless more have left the sport with serious brain trauma and damage. When I asked the boxer about his advice to kids, his answer was both interesting and revealing – he said the following:
“When I ask a kid why he wants to box, there is only one answer he can give me that would prompt me to encourage him to go into the sport. That answer is not for fame, money, or any of the other superficial things that often come with success. No, the only answer that would get me to tell him to keep going is if he said he wanted to be a champion.”
Having passion and purpose in life can help all people, not just athletes. When we love what we do and have our own reasons to “keep going” when things get tough, only then do we enter a special zone that boosts our confidence, focus, motivation, and resiliency — all variables linked closely to life success and happiness.
www.drstankovich.com
Looking for a unique Christmas gift? Then check out our line of sport performance products!
