Physical ability. Hand-eye coordination. Good footwork. Speed. Strength. Talent. Many people would use these words to define what traits a successful athlete possesses. If you have some of these qualities and skills, chances are you can catch a pass, shoot a basket, or hit a ball. These things, however, are not always enough to be successful. These traits are merely part of the athlete starter kit. There is one thing, though, that truly makes an athlete standout. I personally call it the key to success and it can be summed up in three words. The best athletes don’t just have skill, they “love the battle.”
In sports, defeat is inevitable. These defeats may be small or they may be large. Roger Federer and Serena Williams, the best tennis players in the world, still lose matches handily at times. Stephen Curry still misses some baskets. Peyton Manning has thrown incomplete passes that have fans questioning what he is doing. There are teams that go into games that are heavily favored and still lose. The list goes on and on. The point is, many top athletes and teams face defeats. However, the best of the best never use them as a reason to pout or to quit. Every athlete, even the best in the world will lose at some point, and in some way or another. But the very best of athletes never give up because something doesn’t go their way. Instead, they get motivated. They are hungry for more and it’s because they love the battle. In fact, they live to battle.
To love the battle means to work day in and day out. It doesn’t necessarily mean you enjoy every single minute of practice or conditioning but you acknowledge the importance of each day and each practice session. It means that every day, you will try find ways to better yourself and to improve something. These improvements resemble small victories. When it comes to competing, you love playing games or matches against a challenging opponent because you love to be tested. You love being pressed because you know it’s only going to make the victory that much sweeter. You love the battle, even when it’s hard to love anything about your sport.
The reality is that the people with the best attitudes usually come out on top. It’s because they know what it means to be committed for the long-haul and how to enjoy the toughest parts of a sport. If you have skills but you crumble to pieces every time something doesn’t go your way, how will you achieve success? There’s a saying that goes, "when the going gets tough, the tough get going." It’s easy to become pissed when your opponent hits a winner or scores some points, it easy to yell of our anger, blame the refs for a bad call, or blame failure on your coach. It’s hard to stay calm and think strategically instead of becoming emotional. But it’s even harder to woman/man up to the challenge and dig deep. The best of the best do this - time and time again.
Talent means nothing without a willingness to fight, to dig deep and to battle. It doesn’t matter how much skill you have, “loving the battle” is a trait that can't be purchased. It’s a trait you’re born with. If you have it, you will find ways, even in the most trying of times, to be successful.
