How To Succeed at Sports (and life).

When we film with an athlete for Pro Tips, we always take a few minutes to interview that player. Through their journey to reach the highest level in sports comes lessons and tips for all of us.

One of the questions we enjoy asking is; “What are your keys to success?” So we’ve compiled a few answers up and, although they vary, we think you’ll see some common themes among them.

Rebecca Soni – Olympic Gold Medalist Swimmer

“Enjoy what you’re doing. If you’re swimming for your friends & family and they’re pushing you to swim and you don’t enjoy it that much, you won’t succeed. But if you go in everyday loving what you’re doing…I think that’s a top key to success.”

Chris Getz – Second basemen for the Kansas City Royals

“Always be open to criticism, sometimes it’s good to hear some things you can improve on…as much as you don’t want to hear it, but that’s how you get better at baseball and any sport.”

Mo Williams – Point Guard for the Los Angeles Clippers

“Focus on everything that can provide you with longevity in life. If you’re talented in sports use that as a gift as to where you want to be. If you want to be a doctor or a lawyer, they give scholarships for playing basketball, golf, baseball, use that as a tool, get in school and get your education. And if you want to play professional, after your career you have a backup plan because you have a degree in something you went to school for. In any profession, you then have longevity, there are doctors out there that are 65 years old, and in sports we can only do this for so long.”

Dominique Moceanu – Olympic Gold Medalist, Gymnastics

“…working extremely hard and staying dedicated to what you’ve committed to and not letting people put you down along the way and not letting yourself fall victim to that, because some times people are jealous, they will put you down and don’t want you to see you succeed. That should just motivate you and make you work harder and be more successful. I’ve found those things in my life to be very beneficial.”

David Diaz – Former WBO Lightweight Champion Boxer

“…hard work and being loyal to your sport or to whatever it is you want to be, it all demands something from you and you got to be willing to give it. If you are willing to give it, you will be successful.”

Roy Williams – perennial Pro Bowl Cornerback

“Whatever it is you want to do in life, write that down and then try to achieve it one day at a time, because it won’t happen overnight. Strive to do better, from your grades, your ACTs, listen to your teachers, listen to your coaches and don’t treat your teachers different from your coaches, ‘cause if you’re learning from your coach, you’re learning from your teacher, they’re the same. Your coach is no better than your teacher it’s just that you respect your coaches more because you’re doing something you love to do. Write that goal down and reach for it, go after it everyday, love what you’re doing and let your light shine.”

Bryan Clay – Olympic Gold Medalist, Decathlon

“Every decision you make counts in life. I know that sounds simple and you may say well “duh” that makes total sense, but I think we often forget, that when I drive out of the track today, if I turn right instead of turning left that can change my life forever. The choice I make when I come to practice to either train hard or just have fun could change my life forever. Every decision you make can change your life. If you understand the importance of every decision you make and you take a bit of time to think through it and think a little bit into the future and how that decision can effect your life I think you’re going to make smarter decisions and, in turn, be much more successful, whether you’re an athlete, a business person or a student.”

We hope you found some inspiration in these “Keys for Success.” If you like them, please share with you friends and family.

Date: 2015-04-20; view: 822