GETTING BETTER

Over and over again, I’m asked, “What can I do to get better?” My response, each part simple, yet impactful when put into motion: stop trying, put in the work, and be present.

Stop Trying. The word try is defined as “to attempt to accomplish something,” but I believe it's one of the worst and most detrimental words we use. “Trying” sets us up for failure- a product of a defeatist mindset. In my own life, I consciously replaced the word "try" with "work." Consider your biggest goal or a challenge you’ve been grappling with; replace the word "try" with "work" and own it. One of mine, “I am going to work to be a better coach.” An important shift occurs when we stop trying and embrace the notion of working toward our goals because it is through dedicated effort that we find success. When making form changes with someone, they might say, “I’ll try.” I don’t want you to try. I want you to do it.  Stop trying; start working because work is what it takes.

Put in the Work. As American writer Elbert Hubbard wisely said, “The best preparation for good work tomorrow is to do good work today.” Let’s face it: work is tedious, and it can suck. That’s why work is an “effort to produce or accomplish; productive activity.” This means that true mastery comes from consistent effort and activity. Putting the work in every day is the difference between style and lifestyle. If you want to be good at something, make your work your lifestyle. In the end, it all comes down to you and the work. In archery, it is just you and the bow; in strength training, just you and weights; and in all things, it is just you and your spirit.

Be Present. Eckhart Tolle said, "Most humans are never fully present in the now because unconsciously they believe that the next moment must be more important than this one."

Being present is not just a physical act but a mental one. I often see people who are only physically present – just there, breathing through their mouths, mentally blank, and taking up space. Unplugged. Shooting dumb arrows at a stupid target. "Practicing" nothing. I need you present, knowing yourself, so you can step onto the line and take up your space – the good and the bad, the epic and the mundane. You must be wholly present to identify the performance gaps in your technical and mental process. It's only then that we can work toward filling that void and actually improve. Only in this space can I become my best self. Everything short of that is just going through the motions. Those people never win, and I want you to win.