Consider how Tim Tebow, quarterback for the Denver Broncos, has been heavily criticized for his skills as an NFL quarterback. Many have indicated that he shouldn’t be a quarterback in the NFL, and that he couldn’t deliver, Tim Tebow found himself with his back against the wall on January 7, while playing in an AFC Wild Card game against the heavily favored , the Pittsburgh Steelers. .
How did Tim Tebow fare against the Pittsburgh Steelers? What did Tebow do? In these two teams’ overtime meeting from their first play, Tim Tebow threw an 80-yard touchdown run, ending the game. Denver upset Pittsburgh and won the game.
How do you respond when your back is against the wall?
Do you grow in self-pity? Negativity will not help.
This is the time to give it your all and never stop believing in your ability to achieve the desired result.
Remember Game 6 of the World Series in October 2011? It was the bottom of the ninth inning: two outs, two strikes. The Cardinals were playing the Texas Rangers. The season was almost over and Texas was about to walk away with the World Series Championship ring.
What could they do with their backs against the wall? David Freese, a boy from his hometown, hit a home run and the Cardinals won. The Cardinals finally went to Game 7 and beat the Texas Rangers and became World Series Champions.
When you are in the last plays of the fourth quarter in situations of your life, what do you do?
Maybe it’s the last exam of the semester and you need to get an “A” to pass the class. It could be the end of the quarter and you need to close deals to meet your quota. It could be a deadline you have to meet at work.
Remember the fourth quarter of Super Bowl XLII. The New England Patriots were the heavy favorites to beat the New York Giants. However, Eli Manning’s pass to David Tyree in the final two minutes of Super Bowl XLII was a game-changing catch. With this catch, David Tyree jumped up and pressed the ball against his helmet making a catch so spectacular it is known as “The Helmet Catch”. This play was key in the Giants’ upset 17-14 win over the New England Patriots.
How unlikely that David Tyree will be a hero in this game. During the 2007 season, David Tyree was a rare target for Eli Manning catching only four passes and no receptions for touchdowns. However, he is remembered as the player who caught the Giants’ famous Helmet Catch.
These are all examples of how champions respond when their backs are against the wall, but what makes them different from you and me?
Any. There’s no difference.
Athletes train and dream of when they will have their moment to hit the game-winning home run like David Freese, throw the game-winning touchdown like Tim Tebow, or make a sensational catch like David Tyree in the Super Bowl. This is what they live for. That’s what they practice for.
When you’re feeling pressured and falling short of your goals, try these four steps to discover the Champion in you: (1) Dig Deeper and Stay Engaged (2) Reexamine Your Goals (3) Visualize Your Desired Outcome and (4) Keep Believing in You.
You have to dig in and think like a champ. Everyone has some champion qualities in them. However, during tough times, you need to dig in, work harder, and commit to staying focused on your goals. It is your level of commitment that ultimately distinguishes whether you achieve your goals or give up. It is your level of resilience that allows you to say “I can” instead of “I can’t.”
Always keep your goals in sight. This is the ability to say “I’ll keep preparing” and “I’ll keep honing my skills even though I’m not reaching my goals today.” This level of commitment will allow you to be ready when your opportunity arrives.
The next time you feel like your back is against the wall and you’re not reaching your goals, think about how champions respond. Know that you can be a champion and that there is a winner in you.
My recipe for discovering the champion in you is to keep believing in yourself.
Start today by saying “YES” to the Champion in you!
©2012 Winifred D. Bragg, MD. All rights reserved.