http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/highschool-prep-rally/ohio-runner-stops-state-final-aid-fallen-opponent-100722161.html

It’s interesting to note a few things. Both runners are in shape, both have run this track probably hundreds of times, yet it wasn’t enough. At the moment of completion it took a fellow competitor, a colleague in the suffering that is training, someone who understood what it took to make it over the finish line to provide that extra lift.

In my business, I see clients who’ve done all the right things, put in the time, the blood, sweat and tears to build a business – but just need that little piece at the very end to cross the finish line of financial independence. Bravo to you Meghan Vogel from West Liberty-Salem (Ohio) High School. Character is so rare that when you see it, you can’t help but smile.

Read more from Rusty Holcombe on the Holcombe Financial Blog.

Holcomb was going into the final stage of the Cascade Classic down 74 seconds from the leader.  She had not won any of the first four stages. But she had consistently placed in the Top 10. The only exception was the day before the final stage where she finished #21 in the time trial: one of her two areas of expertise.

At this point, she could have let a “negative talk track” affect her performance by saying the other riders are better than me.  In fact, on paper, many of them are. They are past Olympic gold medal winners and the majority of them started as a professional cyclist at least 10 years earlier than Janel.

But on the morning of the final stage of the Cascade Classic, Janel’s team coach looked at her and said, “Do you want to play it safe, get some decent points to add to your score, or are we going to go for it?”  “It was like she just unleashed some penned up dogs, “ Janel said.  I just looked at her and said, “Let’s GO FOR IT! This is the last race that has significant mountain climbing and elevation, which is our specialty, so let’s just do it.”

The entire team rallied around the mission.  And guess what, not only did Janel make up the 74 seconds from the leader but she went on to win the entire race!

“When I saw Janel, she was like a ballerina on that bike sailing along effortlessly and gracefully, while the others seemed to struggle.”  Despite not winning any of the stage races, she proudly wore the yellow jersey!

So, how can we use the “74 seconds theory” in our business life?

Wherever you are at right now in your business, you have to truly believe in your heart that you will get to your next level.  No looking back at the “stages” and previous results.  Only by managing your behavior can you truly move into the ranks of the champions.  Focusing on knowing what you do best and then executing to those strengths will allow you to soar!

This requires you to manage your “inside game” as well. Refuse to give energy to those negative talk tracks we play in our heads:  Wow, I didn’t do that well yesterday, not many sales for the month, not many callbacks from my prospects.  Where are all the quality clients?  Am I ever going to get to the level of success I am capable of?

You will find yourself winning the BIG races, because you said to yourself and your team, “let’s go for it!”  As the leader of your team, you keep a positive inner dialogue and carry your team, each hired for different talents, with you.

Difficult markets and economies will come and go. Just like there have been many struggles along the path for Janel. Injuries have sidetracked her professional career for months at a time. But she has remained strong in her inner game and every day she puts forth the effort in the seemingly mundane task of training with her coach.  Every task, every day makes a difference; never forget that fact, whether in sports or in business!

How do I know all of these details?  Janel Holcomb is my niece and she continually inspires me to my next level of success.

Visit the DNA Behavior website to learn more about our solutions for improving your personal and business performance.

I have been a “fan”(before Facebook!) of Roger Federer since I first saw him in his big break-through year at Wimbledon in 2003.  He has had an historic career and I am always fascinated by how he manages both the external and internal game of tennis.

A recent Wall Street Journal article, Federer’s Best Shot, discussed some of his “secrets” to success.  As I read this article, one overall theme stood out: Roger’s ability to know himself.  His personal trainer describes Roger as a rare combination of creative and disciplined.  “Roger is a champ because he’s the boss of his talent.” This is a core strategy for anyone in sports or in business.  You absolutely must know how to focus on your strengths and manage your struggles.  It will require you to surround yourself with a good team, both on the personal and business side of life.

So, how does Roger manage to rarely get hurt, tired or grumpy?  And, what can we learn from his game of tennis?

Think long-term, don’t overplay
RF:  “I tried to look at the long-term.  I didn’t want to chase everything possible in the short term.”  He made a conscious decision early on in his career to plan his attack on “time”:  to not just be great but to do it longer than anyone else has done it.

Business Translation: Your DNA Behavior will show you if you tend to make everything a priority or if you are more patient in your approach.  Valuable information to know!  How many of us try to accomplish everything at once?  Or, get as many clients as possible?  You don’t need it all right now.  Just do what is next to be done in your overall strategy.

No sports superstitions
RF: “I don’t care if I practice at 9 in the morning or 10 p.m.”  Roger has always been flexible.  He knows what he has to accomplish and can fit it in his schedule as needed.

Business Translation:  So, maybe you don’t have any superstitions, but what about the “old tapes” that may be playing in your head about what it takes to be successful? Checking on your DNA Behavior will show you how much structure you need. Is it too little or is it taking over your life?  Be creative and try operating outside of your comfort zone.  You only need to vary your routine a little to get different results.

Pay attention to your body
RF:  “I’m able to say, it doesn’t hurt me today, but it could hurt me tomorrow.” Roger has only retired from a match once in his life.  He knows when he can “play through it” and when he can’t.

Business Translation:  If you are fatigued physically or mentally, let your body be your guide and take some time off.  Not to get out of work, but to come back stronger.  Make sure you allocate time for proactively taking care of you.  Walk, run, exercise at the gym, take a yoga class; there are endless possibilities and it will strengthen both the inner and outer body.

Travel can be fun – enjoy it
RF:  “The tour is not supposed to be brutal and annoying.”  Some players come to see globetrotting as soul crushing but Roger has a love for travel and soaks up the local culture with his wife and children.

Business Translation:  We all have a part of our job that is routine, the “process” to the end result (e.g., getting a new client).  Do we find a way to enjoy it or does it become a necessary evil that drains our energy? Knowing your strengths in your DNA Behavior will allow you to structure your day so that you are operating from that place 80% of the time.  Or, minimally, you will be able to reframe your mindset to gain more energy to do the necessary tasks with more positive energy.

Take two- to four- week training periods for:
RF:

1. Rest and recovery
2. Strength and endurance (not tennis-related)
3. Tennis exercise like court footwork (but with medicine balls, not rackets and balls)
4. Tennis practice

When Roger had lingering back pain, he put extra emphasis on his abdominal muscles.  After two years, the strategy is finally paying off.

Business Translation:  There was a popular phrase, “Work Hard and Play Hard”. But lately, that phrase has gotten lost in the 10 to 12 hour workday and shortened to just “Work Hard”. What rest and relaxation do we allow ourselves?  Is it just the standard vacation time?  Could there be parts of a day where you relax and read?  Or, do you consider that to be non-productive?  Your Business DNA will help you discover whether balance is part of your natural game or if you need to be more aware of your tendency to overwork with no recovery time.  And, keep in mind that your change in strategy can take a few years before it really pays off.

Finally, the attitude with which Roger Federer approaches both practice and the game is the ultimate lesson for us all.  His personal trainer says, “He still trains with the enthusiasm of a junior.  Sometimes I think, damn it, he’s doing these exercises now 2,756 times, but he does it as if it was the first time.  Roger still has the energy of a 23-year-old.  He’s relentlessly optimistic.”

Business Translation:  Are you approaching each day with an open attitude that there is still a lot to learn about you and your “game of business”?  Get your own personal performance index now, click here.

For additional information on increasing engagement of others, visit our DNA Behavior Website.

Contact us for additional information: inquiries@dnabehavior.com

Foundational to building performance to a high level is knowing your DNA Behavioral style, openly communicating with others and then keeping to a purpose based plan. This is the core DNA Performance Model.

However, the key to sustaining performance is “confidence”. Building performance and starting a “winning streak” is one thing but keeping it going is another. Have you noticed how some people get it together early in their life or career and then lose it later seemingly going into a downward spiral. Some then come back, some do not. Others start slow and then get in the groove and grow. This is also true of businesses and also sporting teams. When you take a look into all of these situations of fluctuating performance the common element is confidence.

When confidence is increasing and is high it can propel you forward further to achieve even better results. However, competency and arrogance can creep in with a failure to remember what got you there. Then a bad event comes or someone does something great out of the blue and you do not know what to do. This can be the start of a loss of confidence, which can build up. At the same time, for another person who has been on a losing streak they string together some wins and successes. Suddenly, they start the climb upwards.

I would encourage all of you to think about what makes you confident and what makes you lose confidence. If you like, we can help you with looking at your confidence attributes.

I would also encourage you to read the book “Confidence” by Rosabeth Moss Kanter. This book uses plenty of great personal, business and sporting stories to show how winning streaks and losing streaks begin and end.

This is the manifestation of a life long dream for me – to be able to blend my passion for cricket with a life purpose of educating people worldwide to learn about who they are for improving the quality of their life. Being Australian I never expected to launch this program while living in the United States.

Raghu Misra, founder of the Cricket Academy is aiming to make cricket a game of choice for American students of all ages from the age of 7 to 21. Few know that cricket was one of America’s earliest sports being imported by the British. Even George Washington and John Adams played. A key focus of the Academy is the personal development of the players. We believe that the differentiators of sportsmen should be their talent and the ability to manage their emotions, and not simply having the best technology and facilities. Ultimately, this “inside-out” approach leads to greater sustainable sporting performance and development of life skills.

In building the Cricket DNA discovery process everything that has been learned from our broader DNA Behavior research has been drawn upon. The unique approach of DNA Behavior is to have all cricket players complete their “Cricket DNA” Personality Profile online to learn more about their talents and also struggles, which if unchecked could get in the way of success. Research and experience shows that when a person combines both their talents with passions they can achieve great results and also build great team relationships through better understanding others. Of course, this leads to greater enjoyment from the game and overall commitment to excel.

Further, the DNA Behavior methodology extends to the coaches. It is absolutely crucial the coaches complete their profiles and talk about them with the team. Team success really increases when there is a high degree of trust between the coach and players. If the player-coaching relationship is broken then failure and disruptive behaviors will not be far away.

These same principles apply in all walks of life whether it be business, personal relationships, sports, the arts and so on.

Visit Cricket DNA for more information: http://www.cricketdna.com