I would like to share with you some valuable principles I've learned through athletics that I have used in business and life. I have a strong background in the sport of wrestling. Every summer since the 8th grade I would go to the University of Iowa training camp where they would absolutely beat you to a pulp from 6am to nighttime. It was when I was an 8th grader that I first was introduced to their camps. Through the intense training regimen, I learned that in order to be a champion I needed to train harder than the next person, believe more, and be more. Here are some character traits I learned thoughout my career and now apply to business.

Goal Setting

You need to have goals. Everyone knows this, but how many of us actually have them written down? Having a goal written down is very important because if you aim at nothing, you end up hitting it. Here is what I did as a wrestler and continue to do now.

1. Write down 3 month goals, 6 month goals, 1 year + goals.
2. Tape your goals on the refrigerator, bathroom mirror, walls, anywhere that is visible all the time.
3. Talk about them all the time to yourself and others. Your life is what you think and talk about all the time.
4. Go out and make it happen!! As Nike says, "Just Do It."

Your guideline should be to have S.M.A.R.T. goals: Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, Timely.

Visualization

Look at an Olympic athlete right before their gold medal performance. Listen to what they say in the interviews. It is rare you hear a gold medal winner saying "I am shocked I never saw this coming" . Many will say that they saw this moment in there mind years ago. Very often a gold medal is won or lost by a millisecond! Here are 3 easy steps you can do that will attract into your life that desired result of your goals and dreams.

1. Clarify your goals, and know exactly what you want.
2. Go to a quiet place, close your eyes and relax.
3. Rehearse in your mind the perfect you achieving and ultimately getting to the end result with flying colors. Repeat that process daily until you win that medal, or land that account, or save that marriage.

Attack Fear

This is a big stumbling block for alot of people. They are afraid of falling, afraid of going out on a limb, afraid of what their family and friends will think. Successful people, on the other hand, attack fear head on. Remember when you were a kid, and everyone was jumping in the water except that one person? The longer they waited to jump in, the more fearful they got.

I wanted to be a champion so bad, that it did not matter what the obstacles were! Until that goal you have is so crystal clear in your mind, and you want it so bad you can taste it, nothing will happen. Attack fear, and it will flee from you. Entertain fear and you will be frozen-never jumping in the water. Fear only exists in your mind. Fear stands for False Evidence Appearing Real. If you do not do these 2 things, fear can rule in your mind, and paralyze your growth.

1. Visualize overcoming your fears.
2. Attack fear, and have an accountability partner with you as you do.

Champions associate with Champions

Who you will become in 5 years has a direct link to the people you associate with and the books you read. I always was around champions, All American, and state champs. Their attitudes, disciplines, and confidence rubs off on you and you take on those same traits as they do. Ever see the Varsity football star hanging out with the JV second string? What about the country club folks? Are they mingling with each other on the course talking business? Want to learn how to be a champion? A successful, wealthy business owner? It's simple: hang out with them, and you will learn more from what they do and say, than your broke relative that says they'd rather stay at home, drink beer, and watch the game could ever teach you..

Work and train harder than your competition

Dan Gable who is arguably the greatest wrestler and wrestling coach of all time told a story about his work ethic. When training for the 1972 Olympic games, he would wake up at 2am, run sprints, lift weights, and drill, until he reached exhaustion. He knew that the Russian was sleeping when was training. So not only was he in better shape, but he had the extra confidence going in knowing he was more prepared than the others. Here is a 2 step formula for developing a strong work ethic.

1. Make a plan of action that aligns with your goals.
2. Persist until you succeed.

Fail Forward

We all get knocked down in life. Disappointments happen to the best of us. It is how you handle these setbacks that will determine your true life long success. When you get knocked down, GET BACK UP!!! And learn from every small and large setback you go through. Make those setbacks a part of your success plan. We learn valuable lessons in tough times. I lost a match once that I'd trained years for. To be very honest, it rocked me pretty bad. I was young, and did not realize all this that I am saying about getting back up. However, I had a decision I needed to make. Stay down and feel hopeless, or get back up and face this thing. Llearn from it, and move on!

Think about your life for a moment. Perhaps you underwent a bad divorce, lost your job, or are dealing with a family illness or death. Maybe your business that you poured your life into is going into bankruptcy. Make daily, weekly, and monthly goals, and visualize yourself in a better place. Pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and start over again with a new, leaner and meaner outlook on things.

Monthly Habits For Self Improvement

This is my core daily and monthly habits that have added so much to my life, and I hope these simple ideas helpm you as well.

1. Have a Mentor

This often is not an easy task. You must have a coach in life that can simply provide direction, and kick you in the butt when you need it. Find someone that not only has the net worth you desire, but also has the family life, spiritual life, and character traits you most admire. I have been coaching both athletes and businessmen for years, and absolutely love it. But truthfully, sometimes my personality does not really work with others, and I always provide resources that I feel would help them. That in itself is just as rewarding knowing that a life can change dramatically. If however you would like more info, go to www.pitbullseminars.com and look me up. Either I can help you, or direct you in the right direction.

2. Attend Seminars

I recommend 1x per month you attend either an industry meeting, or self help seminar. Get around champions and make connections with them. Make friends with the biggest players at these events, exchange business cards, and develop relationships. Not only are you sharpening you knowledge base from the seminars, but you are networking with high level people. Typically you will find top producers attending seminars on a regular basis. Become a visible magnet, rub elbows with champions, and watch your life open up, and earnings soar eventually. Seminars I can recommend are BNI meetings, Rotary Club, REI Club (real estate investing), and yes our event www.pitbullseminars.com for real estate, hard money, and many more.

3. Listen to CD's

The world is full of negative news. We hear it on the radio, watch it on tv, hear the coworkers gossip about this and that. At the end of the day, if you let your mind be a field of this negative, you will end up with weeds in your life. You wouldnt purposefully digest poison in your lunch would you? Then do not allow that junk poison your life. Dilute the negative with positive motivation. Turn your car into a university of success!

4. Read 30 minutes per day or 1 book per month

Right before you go to bed at night, read something encouraging, uplifting, and educational. I cannot tell you how important reading has been for our family. Some of my favorites are listed below as suggestions for you and your family

If you can make these 4 simple habits a part of your life, I challenge you to report back to me in 90 days with your end results. This needs to be everyday with the books and CD's. With you mentoring and seminar attendance 1x per month. We have a deal? Ready for the challenge? I look forward to hear your testimony!

You are a champion, and you can accomplish anything you can see with your mind, and believe with your heart. Make it happen!