When the pressure to perform week after week is on, it’s easy to become overly focused on the work, the results, the analysis. We can forget the very reason we started playing, training, or competing in the first place: the love of the game.
There’s a fundamental secret to success that even the world’s top athletes sometimes lose sight of. I was reminded of this powerful truth while working with a top football team. We were running through speed endurance drills, and the atmosphere was flat. The players were going through the motions, lacking intensity.
As we moved across the field, I noticed a young boy, maybe eight years old, near the goal. He was kicking a ball into the net, retrieving it, placing it down again, and kicking it again, clearly delighted with this simple exercise. It was a profound “aha” moment. He was doing something we weren’t: he was having fun!
When the pressure to perform week after week is on, it’s easy to become overly focused on the work, the results, the analysis. We can forget the very reason we started playing, training, or competing in the first place: the love of the game.
I’ve observed a recurring pattern among successful athletes: they know how to have fun. And it’s a skill you can cultivate too.
Keep it Simple
Don’t over-analyse or over-think your sport or your work all the time. There’s a time and place for analysis and strategic thinking, but when it’s time to perform, the best coaches will tell you: “Just do it!” Get out there and enjoy the process.
Set a Goal to Have Fun
It might sound unusual, but it works. Intentionally focusing on having fun can prevent you from taking yourself too seriously. It reconnects you with the initial spark that ignited your passion. This is why music is so important in training and pre-event routines – it helps create a positive and enjoyable atmosphere. Setting a goal to have fun can even help you avoid the dreaded “choke” under pressure.
Just as I did with the football team, ask yourself: What can I do to create more fun – for myself and for those around me? How can I rediscover the joy in what I do?
When you’re feeling the pressure and demands of performance, it’s crucial to remember the fundamental importance of enjoyment. Keeping things simple, intentionally setting a goal to have fun, and creating a positive and engaging environment can reignite your passion, enhance your performance, and ultimately lead to greater success and fulfillment. Rediscovering the joy in what you do is not just beneficial—it’s essential for long-term achievement and well-being.
Alan Heary – Performance and Mindset Coach
Are you an entrepreneur, manager, or athlete looking to elevate your performance? My background training Olympic athletes, working alongside world champion boxers, and competing in extreme endurance events has given me unique insights into mental toughness. I believe these skills are transferable and essential for success in all areas of life. I help people like you achieve peak performance in business, sport, and life.
For entrepreneurs and managers, I provide the tools to set impactful goals, create actionable plans, and cultivate the confidence and motivation needed to succeed while maintaining a healthy work/life balance. I’ve even worked with large corporations like Microsoft, helping them build high-performance teams.
In the sporting arena, I train athletes to consistently perform at their best by developing unshakeable self-belief, laser-like focus, and unwavering determination. I help them manage anxiety, distractions, and self-doubt. My online course, “Going In The Zone For Sport,” makes these mental fitness skills accessible to athletes of all levels.
My “Going in the Zone” system is designed to help you overcome performance inconsistencies, manage nervousness and self-doubt, and consistently compete at your peak. Through simple yet powerful exercises, you’ll learn to set and achieve goals, control fear and uncertainty, develop winning habits, and build the mental resilience needed to push through challenges. Let me help you unlock your full potential and achieve the success you deserve.
To learn more, get in touch and let’s chat.
