Seven Keys to Becoming the Best

7 KEYS TO BECOMING THE BEST
Dr. Ralph Pim
1. Be honest
2. Have a positive attitude
3. Work hard — go the extra mile
4. Believe in yourself
5. Dream big and set specific goals
6. Take responsibility for your actions
7. Never give up
1 3. Wo Be Honest
Be honest with yourself and with others
Remember that character counts, if you want to be a champion, you must be a
person of honesty and integrity. Honesty means that everything you say is true –
that people can count on your word. In other words, do what you say you are
going to do. If you are speaking the truth you are trustworthy. If you are not
speaking the truth, you can not be trusted. It really is that simple.
Integrity forms trust which is the foundation for all relationships and teams.
Without trust, a team can never reach its full potential.
www.aktive.org.nz

2
3. Have a Positive Attitude
Great performances start with great attitudes.
The final outcome of most games is affected more by attitude than by
talent. The foundation of a good attitude consists of thinking positive thoughts.
A good attitude and a bad attitude are really just two different ways of looking
at the same situation. Attitudes are like a virus, they’re contagious. Attitude is
a choice. You make a choice every day regarding the attitude that you will
embrace for that day. Take ownership of your attitude. Don’t let other people
or external circumstances affect your attitude.
3
3. Work Hard - Go the Extra Mile
There is no substitute for hard work.
It is the price of success. Nothing meaningful comes without working hard.
Never allow your work ethic to fall out of the band of excellence. The harder you
work, the harder it is to give up. Work smart – putting in long hours and working
hard does not necessarily mean that you will succeed. Always identify what you
want to accomplish and decide on the best way of doing it. Establish a simple
and effective blueprint for success.
4
3. Believe in yourself
The greatest obstacle to success is a lack of belief
When people believe in themselves, it’s amazing what they can accomplish.
The size of your belief is directly proportional to the size of your success.
Believing that something is possible makes it possible. When you believe in
yourself and your teammates, you can overcome all challenges.
Aktive Coaching & Talent Development

5
3.Dream Big & Set Specific Goals
All great accomplishments start with a dream.
Dreams fuel your enthusiasm and passion. Surround yourself with people who
believe in the dream and never allow the skeptics in your life to take away your
dream. Goals are the means to reach your dreams. Goals are dreams with
deadlines. Establish goals that are slightly out of reach but not out of sight
(stretch goals). Organize your goals into a set of clearly defined objectives.
Write down your goals and post them where you will see them daily. Break
your goals into stages such as short-term, medium-range, and long-term
goals. Review and recalibrate your goals on a regular basis.
6
Take Responsibility For Your Own Actions
You are personally responsible for everything that you think and do.
Many players want the prestige and status of being on a team, but they don’t
want the responsibility and commitment that go along with it. Accept
full responsibility for your actions. Take responsibility for results. Seek
visible and tangible results. Are you working hard and getting things
accomplished? Great teams have players who understand their responsibilities.
7
3.Never Give Up
Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence and perseverance.
Nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent.
Get back up and keep going stronger than ever after you have gotten knocked
down. You can never give up! You never know when the moment of victory and
triumph is going to come. Winners keep going because they believe in
themselves and they believe in their goals. Play hard every minute, every
second of every game. Learn how to maintain your focus and concentration
even when things are not going well. Winning ugly is an attribute of successful
athletes.
www.aktive.org.nz

Aktive Coaching & Talent Development
www.aktive.org.nz