They say that talent beats hard work, but I say that your input determines your output.
My poor input in the past explains my lackluster results as a high school and college athlete. Extraordinary natural talent can get you to the dance. But, without consistent hard work, that talent won’t make you the best.
Does Talent Truly Beat Hard Work?
If two athletes are equal in every way, the more talented one will win every time. But what happens if the less talented athlete works harder than the talented one?
Many quarterbacks have more talent than Tom Brady. But he outworks them all and has the hardware to prove it. Usain Bolt had supreme talent but the competition at the 2004 Olympics in Greece overwhelmed him. His talent did not beat the other sprinters who put in the hard work. When his work ethic matched his talent, he became one of the greatest sprinters of all time and the fastest man ever.
A talented athlete who does not work hard will never achieve their maximum potential. A hard-working athlete, with less natural talent, can reach their full potential. They can do this by maintaining a strong work ethic. Your best effort, especially on small details, will show who is serious. Most athletes ignore those details, especially with diet and recovery.
So, what two things can you do to ensure you give your best effort?
1) Change Your Mindset
Having positive mindset will ensure that you give your best effort during training.
But having a negative mindset will end any hopes of success before you even get started. When you enter the gym or go to practice with a lousy attitude, your effort is going to be lousy too. I have heard all of the classic, fake hustle excuses during my career as a personal trainer:
“Oh, I’m tired!”
“Man, it’s cold!”
“Girl, this weight is too heavy!”
“Forget this; I’m not in the mood!”
“Why am I doing this? It’s too hard!”
A toxic attitude is bad for positive development. I’d rather an athlete stay home than give a minimal effort with a bunch of lame excuses for being a lousy athlete. When it’s time to train and improve, your attitude is everything. And a positive attitude gives you an advantage when it’s time to overcome challenges.
2) Commit To The Process
A true commitment to the process means some days will be amazing, and some will be unremarkable.
When you commit to the process, you know this. No matter how you feel, you control your effort. It’s 100 percent in your hands. You cannot let outside factors dictate how hard you work. If you want to have a remarkable physique, but you give an unremarkable effort, it will show. Your body will remain unchanged and will eventually deteriorate.
Conclusion
Your input determines your output.
I’ll holla at you next time.
The People’s Trainer,
Fitman
