Don’t Forget About The Small Wins

How often do you look for the things that you need to work on? The answer is probably more often than the amount of times you look at the things you did well at.

As athletes, we are constantly wanting to get better, so I don’t blame you if you are always looking at the different ways to improve. I’m sure you have such high expectations of yourself. The issue is that we look at these things so much, that there isn’t a balance. There isn’t a balance between finding the things you did well at and finding the things you need to work on.

All I’m saying is don’t be afraid to celebrate the small wins. For example, if you hit the ball hard and get out, well okay yes you got out and I’m sure you can critique yourself on some things, but there has to be something you did well at during the at bat. Maybe your pitch selection was really great, and you swung at good pitches. Maybe you squared a ball up and hit it harder than you have in awhile.

Usually, when you start to notice those small wins, they pile up and lead to bigger wins. For example, when you start to realize that your pitch selection is getting better and better, then that will lead to having better and better at bats and producing for your team more.

Action Plan:

I challenge you to find those small things you’re doing well at. The small wins. Practice this each day, and at the end of each day write a couple small wins you had for the day. It doesn’t have to be only about sports. The best “small win” I learned about was making your bed each morning, from the book “Make Your Bed” by Admiral William H. McRaven. He said making your bed each day is the first small win of your day that will lead to other wins throughout the rest of the day.