You Won't Make It Pro Until You Start Doing This

Summary

In this video, the mental performance coach reveals the secret to becoming a standout athlete: strategic risk-taking. The coach explains that while talent and dedication are crucial, they're not enough to make an impact. By mastering the art of strategic risk-taking, athletes can elevate their performance. The video introduces a 'risk review' exercise to help athletes identify, rate, and practice taking calculated risks to improve their game and get noticed by scouts and recruiters.

Takeaways

• 🌟 The secret to becoming a standout athlete often lies not in raw talent or physical conditioning, but in strategic risk-taking.
• 🚀 Many athletes play it safe or are afraid to take risks, which prevents them from standing out and achieving greatness.
• 🏆 Elite athletes excel because they've mastered strategic risk-taking, making calculated decisions to either play it safe or go for high-reward moves.
• 🤔 The concept of strategic risk-taking can be learned and applied to improve performance and increase the chances of going pro.
• 📝 The 'risk review' exercise is a powerful tool to help athletes become strategic risk-takers by identifying, rating, and practicing risks in their sport.
• 🏋️‍♂️ It's important to consider the wider context of your sport, position, and coach's expectations when identifying suitable risks.
• 📊 Rate yourself honestly on a scale of 1 to 10 for how frequently you currently take identified risks to gauge your current risk-taking tendencies.
• 🎯 Set a target rating for each risk to define your desired frequency of taking those risks, aiming for a balance between challenge and recklessness.
• 💪 Practice risk-taking during training sessions by focusing on one risk at a time to build confidence and develop new habits.
• 🧠 Reflect on your risk-taking after each practice or game to learn from outcomes, fine-tune your approach, and build instinctive decision-making skills.

Q & A

What is the key concept that can transform an athlete's performance according to the video?

The key concept is becoming a strategic risk-taker, which involves making calculated decisions to either play it safe or attempt high-risk, high-reward moves during sports.

Why do some athletes with great talent and dedication never break through to the next level?

Some athletes never break through because they either play it too safe or are terrified of taking risks, which prevents them from standing out and achieving remarkable performances.

What is the difference between a strategic risk-taker and a reckless risk-taker?

A strategic risk-taker is someone who can instantaneously analyze a situation and make the correct decision to either play it safe or take a calculated risk. A reckless risk-taker, on the other hand, constantly takes high-risk actions without proper analysis, leading to mistakes and loss of trust.

What is the 'risk review' exercise mentioned in the video?

The 'risk review' is a simple exercise that helps athletes identify suitable risks, rate their current risk-taking frequency, set target ratings for risk-taking, practice taking those risks in training, and reflect on the outcomes to improve strategic risk-taking.

How does the risk review exercise help athletes get noticed?

The risk review exercise helps athletes get noticed by consistently performing noteworthy actions on the field, court, or track, which increases their chances of being scouted or recruited.

What factors should athletes consider when identifying suitable risks?

Athletes should consider the sport they play, their position, whether it's a team sport, their coach's expectations, and playing style or tactics when identifying suitable risks.

Why is it important for athletes to avoid showboating when identifying risks?

Athletes should avoid showboating because it doesn't contribute to their overall performance or score. The focus should be on strategic risk-taking that has practical value and can lead to high-impact outcomes.

How does self-awareness play a role in the risk review process?

Self-awareness is crucial as it allows athletes to recognize their current tendencies and appetite for risk, which helps them set realistic target ratings and improve their strategic risk-taking.

What is the significance of setting a target rating for each risk in the risk review exercise?

Setting a target rating helps athletes establish a clear intention and goal for how frequently they want to take specific risks, which is essential for challenging themselves without being reckless.

How should athletes practice risk-taking during training sessions?

Athletes should pick one risk from their list to focus on before each training session, actively looking for opportunities to take that risk, and using the session to experiment and get comfortable with it.

What is the purpose of reflecting on risk-taking after practice or a game?

Reflecting on risk-taking helps athletes evaluate their performance, understand the outcomes of the risks they took, learn from any mistakes, and fine-tune their strategic approach to risk-taking.