The Price of Standing Out: The True Cost of Excellence in Sports
being excellent is all about transforming every aspect of your life to serve your goals. It means prioritising your craft over almost everything else.
You've probably heard it a thousand times: "Just be yourself, and do your best."
It’s good advice most of the time, but let’s get real. If you are trying to excel in your sport, being “your best“ isn’t about doing what everyone else does. It’s about pushing past your boundaries and embracing the discipline and work ethic that sets you apart from everyone else.
Let's talk about what it takes to stand out from the pack.
The Average Path
Imagine walking down a well-trodden path.
It's easy to see where to go because so many have walked it before you. This is the path of the average athlete. It involves showing up, doing the drills, listening to the coach, and then calling it a day. It’s doing what is expected of you and what everyone else is doing.
It's comfortable, predictable, and... well, average.
Stepping Off the Beaten Track
Now, imagine going down a path into the underbrush, where the way isn't clear, and you have to forge your own trail.
This is the journey of someone striving to be more than average. In school, it's the student who spends an extra hour understanding the why behind the facts, not just memorising them.
In sports, it's the athlete who shows up early to get extra shots up, stretch out, go through a mobility workout etc.
The Lonely Road of Excellence
And then there's the path few are willing to take, a path so unique you can't even see it from the main road.
This is the road to excellence. It's not just about adding an hour of study or practice; it's about transforming every aspect of your life to serve your goals. It means prioritising your craft over almost everything else.
It manifests itself in extra hours in the weight room, skipping the late-night hangouts for rest, meticulously managing your diet, and rigorously sticking to your training regimen.
The Cost
The cost of excellence is loneliness.
It might mean fewer nights out with friends, missing out on that movie everyone's talking about, or being the only one at the gym while others are chilling at home.
Being excellent in sports is about doing what others want to do, but don’t do. It’s about separating your habits from everyone else on the journey and leaving the average lane behind.
It’s the road less travelled and it's in these moments that you're laying the foundation for greatness.
Why It's Worth It
You might wonder, "Is all this sacrifice worth it?"
Think of it like this: every extra lap you run, every study session you extend, every unhealthy snack you pass on adds up. As James Clear, the best-selling author of Atomic Habits, would say,
“Every action you take is a vote for the type of person you wish to become”
It compounds into a level of skill and knowledge that average effort can never achieve.
Your Path to Greatness
So, how do you start?
Begin with small changes. It might be waking up 30 minutes earlier for some quiet study or practice time. Perhaps it's choosing water over soda, or dedicating an extra 15 minutes to stretching. Each small choice builds towards a larger transformation.
Excellence isn't about grand gestures; it's about consistently making choices that align with your highest ambitions. It's a daily commitment to being better than yesterday.
Not everyone will understand your journey, and that's okay. Greatness isn't for everyone, but it might just be for you if you are willing to pay the price.