99.8% of athletes never play professionally.

I’ve spent hours studying the .2% who do.

Here’s what I learned:

Stay in the present.

“When you focus on the past, that’s your ego.

When I focus on the future, it’s my pride.

Focus on the moment, in the present. That’s humility.”
Make your own luck.

“Luck has nothing to do with it.

I have spent countless hours on the court working for my one moment in time, not knowing when it would come.” — Serena Williams

Hard work + talent leads to opportunity.
Skill comes from hours and hours of work.

Love this from Usain Bolt:

“Easy is not an option...

Talent you have naturally, but skill is only developed by hours and hours of work.”
But, by itself, working hard will not get you ahead.

Focusing your time and effort effectively is much more likely to make you successful.

Example: Leo Messi walks 83% of a soccer game.

The other 17% makes him the best player in the world.
Cut loose.

Oddly, athletes seem to perform best when it feels like they don’t care.

When you care too much you get tight and suddenly easy things become difficult.

Have some fun.
Know your role.

Gold from Alex Caruso:

“A big reason guys get stuck in the G League... they don’t realize the position they’re trying out for.

It’s like going to a job interview thinking you’re going to be the CFO, and they’re looking for someone to clean the bathrooms.”
Do everything you can to build and keep momentum.

Momentum is hard to describe. But when you’ve got it, you’ll know.

How to build it:

Do small things exceptionally well.

Let small things become big things.
Execution matters far more than vision.

“Everybody has a plan until they get punched in the mouth.” — Mike Tyson
“Fine” and “not bad” are the biggest enemies of exceptional.

Katie Ledecky on avoiding complacency:

“I approach every single race with the attitude that I can break world records. I’m going to step up and throw down.”
How to take feedback.

The best coaches & teammates call you out on your bullsh*t.

They don’t accept mediocrity or even average.

Instead of getting upset, listen to the feedback and apply it.
Take care of yourself.

LeBron spends $1.5 million each year taking care of his body.

Not saying you can do that. But you can:

- Exercise
- Go outside
- Eat well
- Sleep
If you got something from this, please:

• Retweet the first tweet to help others find it

• Follow @nathanbaugh27

I write about sports, storytelling, and their intersection.
One more:

Optimists win.

If you think you can’t win — you’ve already lost.

If you believe you can win — you’ve got a chance.
Storytelling is the most important skill you can learn.

Try my free, weekly newsletter to become a better storyteller today: https://t.co/3MxPs1XWQI
Principles to success are well known.

Ruthlessly applying them, day in & day out, is the hard part.

We all know that.

Nothing guarantees “success,” but your habits greatly affect your odds no matter the field you go into.

More from All

The best morning routine?

Starts the night before.

9 evening habits that make all the difference:

1. Write down tomorrow's 3:3:3 plan

• 3 hours on your most important project
• 3 shorter tasks
• 3 maintenance activities

Defining a "productive day" is crucial.

Or else you'll never be at peace (even with excellent output).

Learn more


2. End the workday with a shutdown ritual

Create a short shutdown ritual (hat-tip to Cal Newport). Close your laptop, plug in the charger, spend 2 minutes tidying your desk. Then say, "shutdown."

Separating your life and work is key.

3. Journal 1 beautiful life moment

Delicious tacos, presentation you crushed, a moment of inner peace. Write it down.

Gratitude programs a mindset of abundance.

4. Lay out clothes

Get exercise clothes ready for tomorrow. Upon waking up, jump rope for 2 mins. It will activate your mind + body.

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हिमालय पर्वत की एक बड़ी पवित्र गुफा थी।उस गुफा के निकट ही गंगा जी बहती थी।एक बार देवर्षि नारद विचरण करते हुए वहां आ पहुंचे।वह परम पवित्र गुफा नारद जी को अत्यंत सुहावनी लगी।वहां का मनोरम प्राकृतिक दृश्य,पर्वत,नदी और वन देख उनके हृदय में श्रीहरि विष्णु की भक्ति अत्यंत बलवती हो उठी।


और देवर्षि नारद वहीं बैठकर तपस्या में लीन हो गए।इन्द्र नारद की तपस्या से घबरा गए।उन्हें हमेशा की तरह अपना सिंहासन व स्वर्ग खोने का डर सताने लगा।इसलिए इन्द्र ने नारद की तपस्या भंग करने के लिए कामदेव को उनके पास भेज दिया।वहां पहुंच कामदेव ने अपनी माया से वसंतऋतु को उत्पन्न कर दिया।


पेड़ और पौधों पर रंग बिरंगे फूल खिल गए और कोयलें कूकने लगी,पक्षी चहकने लगे।शीतल,मंद,सुगंधित और सुहावनी हवा चलने लगी।रंभा आदि अप्सराएं नाचने लगीं ।किन्तु कामदेव की किसी भी माया का नारद पे कोई प्रभाव नहीं पड़ा।तब कामदेव को डर सताने लगा कि कहीं नारद क्रोध में आकर मुझे श्राप न देदें।

जैसे ही नारद ने अपनी आंखें खोली, उसी क्षण कामदेव ने उनसे क्षमा मांगी।नारद मुनि को तनिक भी क्रोध नहीं आया और उन्होने शीघ्र ही कामदेव को क्षमा कर दिया।कामदेव प्रसन्न होकर वहां से चले गए।कामदेव के चले जाने पर देवर्षि के मन में अहंकार आ गया कि मैने कामदेव को हरा दिया।

नारद फिर कैलाश जा पहुंचे और शिवजी को अपनी विजयगाथा सुनाई।शिव समझ गए कि नारद अहंकारी हो गए हैं और अगर ये बात विष्णु जी जान गए तो नारद के लिए अच्छा नहीं होगा।ये सोचकर शिवजी ने नारद को भगवन विष्णु को ये बात बताने के लीए मना किया। परंतु नारद जी को ये बात उचित नहीं लगी।