|
|
      |
| The Lounge | Champions | The Wire | Schedule | Audio | Arcade | The Top Ten | Historical | Email | Video |
|
|
|
| The Lounge | Champions | The Wire | Schedule | Audio | Arcade | The Top Ten | Historical | Email | Video |
 |
Motivation By A Challenge
Many humans are motivated by the thought of doing something they or others think they cannot do. They don't want to do what they already know they can do. When I studied Taekwondo, most of the best students were slim, flexible and young. I was thickset and definitely not flexible! I was also over forty! The instructor asked me with some curiosity why I had decided to do something which did not really suit my physical makeup. I replied that there was no point in doing something I was already good at or likely to be good at. I wanted a challenge. This answer seemed to make sense to him. People climb mountains because they are big challenges and when they reach the top they will feel they, too, have grown in stature. Jim Rohn, the great American self-help guru, tells us to make a million pounds not so much for the money but for what making a million will make of us. In the Contender reality show where sixteen middleweight boxers are pitted against each other, the prize is a final fight at Caesar's Palace in Nevada. The winner will be given a million dollars and the glory of beating their competitors. Some of the boxers used strategy to try to win the prize. They wanted to face the weaker boxers so that they would stay in the competition and would suffer fewer injuries. They were regarded as cowards by some of the others who proudly or recklessly chose to face the toughest boxers on their route to the top. In the week when only 8 boxers were left, Joey Gilbert was thinking about fighting Anthony Bonsante who had an injured hamstring and was therefore vulnerable. Jesse Brinkley was disgusted with his attitude: "Do you want everything given to you?" Jesse even went so far as to accuse Joey of cowardice. But then he had managed to accuse nearly everybody except himself of cowardice! Was this his strategy? In fact, Jesse had been planning on fighting Bonsante himself. He decided to win the weekly challenge so that he could decide who would be in the next fight. Jesse won the challenge and decided to make Joey earn his way by fighting Peter Manfredo Junior - one of the best fighters. This would leave the way open for Jesse to fight his preferred opponent - the injured Bonsante! His corner man told Joey: "Everything you need to win is inside you. You are a winner. Don't get into 'He can do this or I can do that.' When all the chips are against you that's when you fight the best." Peter Manfredo's dad showed up to be in his corner. Peter commented: "He'll inspire me." Joey accepted his lot and changed his attitude: "I came here for a challenge and I got it. Jesse's right It's better to attempt great things and fall short than it is to conquer something you know that you can already beat and this is one of those times. I know I have a hill to climb. I'm the underdog but I know I can pull it out with my heart if I dig deep." Peter gave his thoughts before the fight: "I'm anxious to get in there especially with my father being here. I've never lost in front of him yet and I don't want to start now. I know I'm one of the best fighters here and I guess I'm just going to go for it." Peter won the first round with some heavy punches. Joey told his corner: "My rib is broken". Peter won the second round. Joey again commented: "My rib is gone." In round three, Joey forgot about his rib and put up a real fight. Before the fourth round, his corner man urged him on: "Let's go baby! Let's go baby!" Joey won round four and his corner man continued to motivate: "This is the last round for the rest of your life, son!" His words were prophetic as Joey was accidentally head butted by Peter in round five. His head would probably need about forty stitches and the fight was stopped so that Joey could go off for treatment. Peter won by split decision. He was quietly elated: "Tonight was a great night. My heart goes out to Joey and his family. Joey is an awesome kid. He has a heart of gold. He kept coming. He wanted to win. I give him all the credit in the world. I've won two fights - I've got one more to go. I won't celebrate till I go to Caesar's. Joey was upset but not too despondent: "I fought for five rounds with one of the best in the world, Peter Manfredo Junior. I might even have been able to beat him had I finished that fifth round. Part of me always knew that I was capable of competing at this level but part of me doubted it because I had always been told that I was a college boxer and couldn't compete with pro boxers. But I learned that I can do it." Joey continued his extensive reflections on the fight: "A champion's heart is made of gold and it means you don't quit and it means that you fight on and I tried to show the heart of a champion and I never quit and I never gave up because I could look right and see my family and see my father. I didn't want to let them down. My grand father used to say that your family is the most important thing you have in your life and I can definitely say that's true for me. The tournament, the Contender, for me was one of the toughest challenges I've ever put myself through. It's done and it's one of the best times in my life. It's something I'll never forget as long as I live." Sugar Ray Leonard was impressed by Joey's performance: "If you look up the word 'heart' in the dictionary you'll probably see Joey Gilbert's photo!" Boxing is all about motivation and the readiness to face challenges. It is about having the heart to persist in the face of mind numbing pain. Boxers have much to teach the rest of us. About the author John Watson is an award winning teacher and martial arts instructor. He has recently written two books about achieving your goals and dreams. They can both be found on his website http://www.motivationtoday.com along with a daily motivational message. The title of the first book is "36 Laws To Ignite Your Inner Power And Realize Your Dreams Now! - Acronyms, Stories, Pictures And Quotes...Easy To Remember And Use Everyday To Grab Your Life And Soar With The Eagles" The book can be found at this URL: http://www.motivationtoday.com/36_laws.php The book uses acronyms, stories, pictures and quotations to help readers remember 36 laws that can gradually transform your life if you apply them. Ezine editors / Site owners Feel free to reprint this article in its entirety in your ezine or on your site but please include the resource box above.
MORE RESOURCES:
Google News |
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
Motivation: Tearing Down Your Own Limitations Q.: I've always been sort of cynical about all this motivational stuff. Nurturing Your Vision There is a new television show, called Blind Justice that will be replacing NYPD Blue. The show follows a Detective who, at the prime of his life and career, loses his vision in a heroic attempt to thwart a bank robbery and save other police lives. Everything Going Against You "When everything seems to be going against you, remember that the airplane takes off against the wind, not with it." Henry FordWhen everything is going along smoothly, you feel like nothing can stop you. Resistance Is Natural - but Not Helpful - in Times of Change Here are five feelings we all experience in changing times. Check these out for yourself by thinking about times when you were experiencing significant life change, either personal or professional. Why Holding A Vision Magnetizes Great Achievement The only reason some people enjoy success while others fail is because those who succeed persist in holding the vision of what they want.They succeed, in the first place, by creating a vision. Pushing Through Your Comfort Zone Our greatest growth in life comes from pushing through our present comfort zone. This process starts at birth. How to Make Bite Size Resolutions for 2005 It never fails. Another new year approaches. How to Take Your Stalled Projects to the Finish Line Q. I have several projects going at once -- but I never seem to finish them! I'm pulled in so many different directions -- and I end up with nothing to show for my efforts!A. 7 SECRETS To A Great Life A great life doesn't happen by accident. A great life is the result of allocating your time, energy, thoughts, and hard work towards what you want your life to be. Its a Habit Do you sometimes have the feeling that you're running into the same obstacles over and over again? Many of my conflicts have the same feel to them, like "Hey, I think I've been here before," but I can't figure out how I wound up in the same place. The situation is different, but the conflict feels the same. 4 Qualities of Highly Successful People What if you can be, do or have anything you want, what would you desire in your life?Now do you believe it can happen? Yes? No? In the words of Henry Ford, "If you think you can do a thing or think you can't do a thing, you're right."Well then what actually happens for those people who do seem to get everything they desire?Let's take a closer look. 17 More Things Ive Noticed Along the Way So Far Three areas of life in which we get very little training, yet we all seem to have a strong opinion on: marriage, parenting and money.When all is said and done, it really is much simpler to succeed than to fail. Habit Change--Six Steps to Success As every New Year approaches, many of us are doing the usual?thinking, "This year will be different. I'm going to change?(fill in the blanks)?my work habits, my attitudes. Motivation By Facing Facts "Things is either done, or they ain't done." Marlon SandersSome of the greatest truths are the most obvious. Do The Hardest Thing First And The Rest Will Be Easy Have you ever noticed that in life we almost always choose the easy road, the path of least resistance when it comes to challenges in our way?I remember as a kid working in a warehouse, the foreman came up to me when I was complaining about the tough job I had ahead of me at the end of my shift, and said?"You want a secret that will help you not have to deal with that task at the end of the day?"I said "Sure", hoping he was about ready to give me a new assignment."Do the hardest thing first, and the rest will be easy" he replied. Is Work Still Necessary? I have a confession to make - several confessions in fact.I have at times been stupid enough to believe that work is not necessary to make money or achieve success. 7 Tips For Lasting Motivation And Greater Success Lasting motivation is possible once you adopt an outlook that allows you to be more successful. Here are seven tips you can use today to overcome procrastination and start achieving much more. How To Beat Procrastination At Work Listen. If you don´t beat procrastination at work the long term consequences could be serious. If You Are Rejected! This article exemplifies the inner working of emotional intelligence. Effectively working through one tough situation at a time can build our emotional competence. Who Do You Need To Become To Make It Happen For You? 'We cannot become what we need to be remaining what we are.' -Max DupreeYear after year, month after month, day after day, you have hoped for change.
|
Section Site Map - Submit News - Feedback - Comments - Advertise with Us Copyright © 2006 Luminati Inc. All rights reserved. 
|
