I wonder how many top performers genuinely have no doubt? Ian Botham strikes me as someone who never gave failure a moment's thought, but in every autobiography I've ever read by 'the best' they all seem to be holding two contradictory thoughts. They simultaneously believe they are the best and also are constantly nagged by fear of failure. I guess the very best are also the best at listening to the first one and drowning out the second.
When you read anything from Jordan or Bryant, the fear of failure doesn’t seem to be there. Their entire focus is on winning. Jordan talks well about all the shots he missed and learning from his failures.
I also read a thing by Roger Federer recently where he said that you play the point. If you screw up and get passed on a point, you shake it off and play the next one. If you win a point and play a jumping backhand smash that makes it onto ESPN as one of the greatest shots of all time, you shake it off and play the next point.
Also, through his entire career, he won 52% of the points he played - or something crazy like that. Very small margins at that level.
Really chuffed to hear that you booked that flight!
I wonder how many top performers genuinely have no doubt? Ian Botham strikes me as someone who never gave failure a moment's thought, but in every autobiography I've ever read by 'the best' they all seem to be holding two contradictory thoughts. They simultaneously believe they are the best and also are constantly nagged by fear of failure. I guess the very best are also the best at listening to the first one and drowning out the second.
When you read anything from Jordan or Bryant, the fear of failure doesn’t seem to be there. Their entire focus is on winning. Jordan talks well about all the shots he missed and learning from his failures.
I also read a thing by Roger Federer recently where he said that you play the point. If you screw up and get passed on a point, you shake it off and play the next one. If you win a point and play a jumping backhand smash that makes it onto ESPN as one of the greatest shots of all time, you shake it off and play the next point.
Also, through his entire career, he won 52% of the points he played - or something crazy like that. Very small margins at that level.