The 4 Requirements to being an Athlete

So what exactly is an athlete?

My definition of an athlete is a little different from what you might find in a quick google search.

To me there are specific requirements (4 of them actually ) to being an athlete, and it doesn't involve being a professional or an expert. Rather than a label, to me being an athlete is more of a mindset and lifestyle.

Requirement #1: A Human body

Anyone has the opportunity to be an athlete, because the first thing you need is a body. But, not everyone is willing to work or think like an athlete.

Requirement #2: Dedication to the health and performance process

It takes true dedication to achieve excellence because the road to longevity and performance is neither easy nor short. There will be challenges and setbacks (more than you would like) that will slow you down, but giving up is never an option.

This reminds me of a quote I heard from the world famous women’s soccer coach, Jill Ellis, in a Netflix documentary where she says, “ Hold fast, and Stay true”. In the documentary , she stated it meant we must hold on tight through the journey and stay true to ourselves and our plan.

I couldn't agree more with Jill. It's easy to give up when adversity hits, but if you hold on long enough you will reap the rewards of all the hard work we have done to get there.

Requirement #3: Commitment to the 1%

This I learned from James Clears” book Atomic Habits. For consistent improvement , we need to work on being 1% better each day.

The focus should not be on perfection, but instead on consistent improvement. Each moment , each task, and each thought is an opportunity to get 1% better than you were yesterday.

Requirement #4: Internal Drive

You must have drive and determination to keep moving forward against hurdles and challenges. But inner drive does not exist without the practice of self discipline. Each day you must show up and put in work.

At the end of the day it's up to you, and no one else, who determines how successful you are.