In the video below, you’ll see Eric Thomas speaking to a group of mixed martial artists (including Anthony Pettis). His message is powerful and particularly relevant to competitive fighters. If you want to succeed as a fighter, there is a price to pay. Your life needs to revolve around the sport. It must consume you. Stepping into the ring or cage is not a game. It’s a fight. Your opponent is coming with hopes of knocking you unconscious. Nothing would please him more than to see you hit the canvas.
Your opponent doesn’t care about your social life. He doesn’t care if you are able to go out and enjoy yourself. He doesn’t care if you are tired. He doesn’t care if you are sore. He doesn’t are about you. He wants to knock you out. And as I state these facts, please don’t misinterpret my message. I’m not trying to discourage you. Your level of dedication is a personal choice. What you prioritize in life is entirely up to you.
I’m not here to tell you how to live your life. All that I’m doing is reminding you that there are fighters whose lives do revolve around the sport. They are 110 percent committed. Whether you choose to take on such commitment is up to you. It’s not for me to decide. You just need to recognize that such commitment does exist in certain individuals. Whether it is for you or not doesn’t change the reality of its existence.
If you wish to compete at the highest level, it is only a matter of time before you find yourself up against someone who is fully committed. They have given everything they have to become their absolute best. There isn’t anything they wouldn’t sacrifice to improve.
And as you’ve probably guessed, such sacrifice and dedication isn’t limited to competitive fighters. The 110 percent mentality can be seen in any profession. Different people have different interpretations of what constitutes hard work. Different people also have different priorities in life. Not everyone cares about becoming the absolute best. Maybe I’m just crazy, because I’ve always wanted to be the best at whatever I do. Maybe I do sacrifice too much at times. It isn’t always healthy and it isn’t always fun. Once again though, it is an individual choice. We all live the lives that we want to live.
Just be aware that making it to the top of anything is a challenging journey. Worthwhile rewards don’t come without sacrifice. How much you are willing to give dictates how much you will receive. For me, I have an all or nothing mentality. If I’m passionate about something, there isn’t anything I won’t endure to accomplish my goals.
In summary, decide what you want and how bad you want it. Be aware that life isn’t easy. Success doesn’t fall out of the sky. It is earned through ridiculously hard work. There is a price to pay and that price is often more than what many are willing to commit.
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“The price of success is hard work, dedication to the job at hand, and the determination that whether we win or lose, we have applied the best of ourselves to the task at hand.” – Vince Lombardi
And don’t forget: there will ALWAYS be people there to shout you down. In my experience, most don’t mean it – or even know they’re doing it.
But most people don’t live their lives at a higher level. They’re satisfied with average, and many of those folks look down on those who want more. I’ve learned to be conscious about whose voices I let inside my head. Because it’s that inner conversation which determines everything.
BTW Ross – of all the people I’ve pointed towards your site, I think maybe one guy has bought your programs… proof positive of mindset.
I think it was James Toney who said “You don’t PLAY boxing.” And of course you would say the same for MMA also. In fact I would say MMA is even tougher than boxing being you are concerned with not only fists, but knees, elbows, kicks, and submission holds. Boxing or MMA are definitely not for someone who isn’t aware of the dangers of competing against someone whose only purpose is to either beat the daylights out of you or render you unconscious.
Good msg to people entering a dangerous sport. It’s not tv choreographed fight scenes where the good guy doesn’t get hurt. I come from a family where everyone has served in the military. Needless to say, the will to succeed and discipline are required in war and the price tag is usually a lot higher than an @ss beating.
Alexi from fitmid-life.com.