Create a Winning Environment

As you progress in work or in sport, the most critical piece to excel is to create and live in a winning environment. A winning environment does not mean you need to live in Boulder, CO or San Diego, CA, what it means is that you need to surround yourself with people and tools to allow you to achieve.

At the United States Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, there is a sign above the dining room, the sign says: Not Every Four Years, Every Day. This symbolizes the commitment that not just the athletes, but the staff, family, and supporters make in creating a winning environment.

Think back to when you were a child or think about the child of someone you know that participates in a sport. Look at a gymnast whose parents will hire a private tutor so that their child can train twice a day, or the parent who takes their child to swimming at 5:30am and then back after school. Even high school football often requires players to train during the summer and twice a day.

You may think that these examples are extreme, but they are not. The biggest piece of that winning environment is the support of those around you. In some cases those parents may force their child to practice, but in most cases that same child is then surrounded by a group of peers that are their friends and help to push one another. The parents act as more of a facilitator.


Mental

Consumer researchers discover that although we may not care to admit it, what other people think about something can affect what we think about it. Regardless of where you live, the equipment you have access to and the plan you have, a single person that is very close to you can derail everything. The study in the Journal of Consumer Research reveals that negative opinions cause the greatest attitude shifts, not just from good to bad, but also from bad to worse.

While you need to surround yourself with honest people, what is more crucial is to have the same people be positive. If you have someone asking, “Why are you wasting your time doing?” or “We are all going to die, why stay in shape?” You should think about why this person is around. Is it for convenience? Because they always have been? Are you married to them?

Like the saying, breaking up is hard to do; removing negative people can be just as hard. First approach whoever is negative and let them know what the end result is, they may not understand or be aware of your goals. Once you make it know what you goal is, from finishing your first triathlon to winning a world championship, ask for their help. Let them know you need their support, if they then balk at this; truly think about if you really need them as a part of your life.

Encourage those around you to get involved in a part of your training. Leading Australian Coach Lawrie Lawrence once said of confidence in competition, “Nothing gives an athlete confidence like knowing they have done everything they possibly could have done to their best of their ability in training and preparation”. Help others set goals and determine how to achieve your goals together. Often time’s one spouse or a friend may feel left behind if you make large changes to your lifestyle to accomplish your goals, bring them along for the ride. Talk about your ambitions and aspirations for the future, support those around you, and do not try to con them.

Similar to those who have mental health issues or drug addictions, you need to have the social support there to help when you have a bad race, and even when you have a good one.


Consumption
Food and drink, especially at meal time can be a stressor. Lead by example; do not openly criticize what others are eating. Their extra calorie consumption does not affect your personal weight gain. As you lean out, some people will try to tell you that you are too skinny, but in reality you are fit and healthy. Set the bar, know that what goes into your body has a direct correlation on your health and performance.

Everything in moderation. The beer is ok, that wine or cheeseburger are ok as long as everything is done in moderation.


Location
While it is great to live at high altitude and have the ability to easily train in altitude and sea-level this is not a requirement for a winning environment.

What is critical to success is to live in a place where you have access to a pool, a place to cycle and a place to run. Even better yet is to have a place to do these things outside on a semi-regular basis. While it is not critical to run/bike outside daily or even weekly, the sun has been proven to enhance mood and health.

Just because an area has a high level of athletes like Boulder, CO or San Diego, CA does not make it an ideal location to live and train.

Those around you will make a much larger impact. Having professional athletes within walking distance does not have a direct correlation on your performance, it can be a motivator, but will not make you get up and move


Physical (Stuff)
All of the most expensive equipment in the world will not make someone with no desire or drive win. If you look at those at the very top of the sport, many will have the latest most aerodynamic equipment and others will not. While you MUST have a bike, running shoes, and other basic equipment, it simply needs to be of good quality and well functioning. If you have an unlimited budget, by all means by the best you can. Otherwise prioritize, and base your decision making on the below and ask yourself is product X, truly essential?

    Priority 1: Something essential, must do/must have.
    Priority 2: Something important, something to bring you to 97%.
    Priority 3: Something desirable, support to 99%.
    Priority 4: Something optional, helping to achieve last 1%.

A bike as previously mentioned is an essential piece of equipment for success. Is a $10,000 bike essential? No, optional at best. You desire is free. You passion and commitment are free. If you have the buy-in of those around you, their attitude and desire for you to win is also free.

When you purchase something, be it a new air pump for your tires, new shoes, or a home, think about your reasoning behind the purchase. Some items regardless of size or cost, can be more of a burden than an enhancement. For example your shoes, you have been running well in the same make of shoes and similar model for a few years, and a new highly marketed brand of shoe comes out. It seems that every magazine is raving about the shoe. You are already running well and injury free, how are these new shoes going to help you? Will they revolutionize your running? Probably not.

While stuff can help you go faster, and improve your performance so will shedding those last few pounds as will better training. Simplify. Let go of the baggage that holds you back.


Set Goals
Our brains work by setting goals and achieving them.

• Simple – I want coffee. I will make coffee. I made coffee.
• Advanced – I want to win the Ironman World Championships. I have trained for 5 years progressively getting faster, more efficient, and stronger. I won.

To succeed relative to your competitors at work or in sport, you must be willing to constantly out work them. You must be willing to wake up early, catch the worm, eat the worm, and then get back the following day and do the same.

To succeed in your own mind, you must be willing to set long-term dream goals and shorter goals that are both achievable if you put in the work. The goals cannot be something that will happen if you are lazy; your goal should be something that requires you to work.


One Last Thing
One last thing, remember that you need balance in your life. While triathlon or sport might be the largest or second largest consumer of your time, remember that success at work, life or sport comes down to balance.

Some people look at problems as the proof they are victims, while others consider these same problems to simply be challenges. Who do you want to be?