We all love a good underdog story don't we?
You know, the one where one team has seemingly no chance to win, but manages to band together to overcome the odds and knock off the giant?
The 'Miracle On Ice' comes to mind as one of the best examples of an underdog overcoming the odds to shock the world.
But, if I'm being totally honest, I think often times most teams beat themselves before they come to the rink when they're faced with the underdog role.
Like we talked about in a past article, we start to focus our mindset on the wrong things. We start to focus on all the things that are out of our control....
How good the other team is... How fast they are...How physical they are...
Often times, players and teams also let doubt win the mental battle and start to creep in. It becomes easy to say "that team is too good" or "we have no chance".
Think about it.
I'm sure every person reading this has felt that way at one point or another.
So that begs the question, how is that helping you or your team be your best?
The short answer is: it's not.
The thing we have to remember is the struggle and the competition is what makes hockey, and life, so great and awesome.
Winning and overcoming obstacles is more of a mindset than anything else. It doesn't mean that you're always going to get the result that you want, but I can guarantee you that it will leave you feeling satisfied with the effort that you put out. That inner knowledge that you know you put everything on the line and went for it. That's what it's all about.
So as playoffs start to role around, or even just a big game or a big opportunity, give yourself a real chance to be successful.
Focus on the things you can do to be successful. Focus on your preparation. Focus on your work ethic. Focus on your ability to be a great teammate. And most importantly, focus on your attitude.
Nothing worth having comes easy. I love that quote for a few reasons, and there's a reason that I have a big framed picture in my office with that quote on it. Plain and simple, it's the truth. I don't know anyone who has achieved anything great, in hockey or life, without having to work and grind for it. The grind and blood, sweat, and tears is what makes achieving what you want so worth it. It's that feeling of satisfaction knowing that you laid it all on the line, overcame obstacles, and did something great. At the end of the day, no great victory is possible without a ton of hard work and a belief that what you're going after is possible.
So if you take anything from this post today, take this... Don't beat yourself before you even show up.
Don't be scared because the odds are stacked against you. Instead, embrace the challenge and truly lay it all on the line and go all in for what you want. I can't promise you that you'll always get the result that you want, but I can promise you that you'll never look back and regret the work you put in.
So if you find yourself the underdog, realize the opportunity that's in front of you. You have the chance to knock off the giant when no one else thought it was possible. You have the chance to write the ending to the story. Don't waste that chance because you're too scared that it might not go the way you want. Give yourself the chance for something great to happen...
Keep fighting and striving for greatness.
I can't wait to hear about the next underdog story.