Confidence is one of the most important tools for future success. It allows us to reach for ambitious wins, and propels us forward on our journey towards that win. Confidence can transform a schoolboy into an Olympic athlete; or a single mother into a global literary sensation; just as it can transform you into the person you have always dreamed of being.
In our book ‘Take control of your confidence’, we have tried to demystify the concept of confidence by breaking down each and every stage of the journey towards your win. We have utilised the combined experience of the Track Record team, which includes top psychologists, world-class sporting coaches, and Olympic athletes. We have devised a formula that has been proven to work time and time again, no matter what it is you want to achieve.
We won’t tell you to set unrealistic targets, or make you feel guilty about your life to date. We have all experienced more than our fair share of disappointments and missed opportunities. But through it all, one message has always rung out loud and clear - confidence leads to success, but success does not lead to confidence.
The formula for success
Unfortunately, there is no quick fix formula for success, and there is no substitute for hard work. But there are a few ways in which we can maximise the effort that we put in, and minimise the risk of failure along the way. We have identified eight key lessons that – when followed – will give you the best possible chance of achieving your win.
These eight lessons are:
- Knowing your purpose.
- Understanding your values.
- Setting strong foundations.
- Gaining clarity around your win.
- Identiying your critical elements.
- Planning for failure.
- Altering your mindset in order to become the best possible version of yourself.
- Learning to learn.
We will discuss these eight lessons in more detail in separate blogs, and - of course - in our book. But first, we want to tell you why we have embarked upon this project.
Every member of the Track Record team has experienced first hand how confidence can propel us towards our wins. However, confidence alone is not enough. There must also be a structure in place for us to follow – a roadmap to success.
How to create a roadmap to success
In the London 2012 Olympics, Team GB athletes were treated like gods. They were seen as otherworldly beings, better and faster and stronger than the rest of us, who would take the hopes and dreams of a nation and channel them into global wins. Of course, there was nothing infallible about these athletes – they were just ordinary people like everyone else, but with one major difference – their work ethic.
This does not simply mean that Olympians work harder than the average person; but they do tend to work in a more targeted way. For instance, swimmer David Carry spent eight years in intense training ahead of the 2012 Olympics, only to be faced with an eleventh-hour injury that almost cost him his place in the Olympic trials. But thanks to his targeted training plan, he was able to bounce back from injury and go on to deliver a career-best performance in the London Aquatics Centre.
David’s roadmap to success followed the eight lessons listed above. He took the time to understand his purpose, values and foundations, and this allowed him to build a stable core of self-awareness and motivation. From there, he was able to clarify the moment of his win, and then work backwards to identify the critical elements and plans that had to be in place before he could reach that winning moment, become his best self, and repeat the whole process again and again.
What is the win?
We don’t like to use the word goal, if possible. A goal represents a tangible thing – a one-off, momentary experience that is over as soon as it has begun. Instead, we use the word ‘win’.
A win is earned through hard work and dedication. It is a culmination of a longer process, and that means that it can be repeated and codified to help others achieve wins of their own. For example, David has been able to use his experience as an Olympic swimmer to help Track Record’s clients reach a series of wins as diverse as getting a promotion at work, helping a stay-at-home dad find his ideal work/life balance, and encouraging a yoyo dieter to make a change that sticks.
However, the win is not the end of the process. We want our clients to use their learning and experiences to grow in confidence and go on to achieve bigger and better wins in their lives. We want every person who reads the book, or visits our offices, or follows these blogs to become the best version of themselves that they can possibly be – that is our win.
What happens after the win?
We have designed our book and website to be easy to use, and even easier to re-use. This means that you can achieve your first win, then return to the start of the process with a completely different win in mind. By working through each lesson systematically, you will be able to focus your attention on the things that really matter, and weed out all of the distractions and obstacles that might hold you back in any way.
By repeating these steps and notching up new wins, you will become a lot more confident, and this confidence will encourage you to aim higher and challenge yourself to reach your full potential. Confidence comes from knowing who we are and leaning into our individual and collective strengths. It is a combination of our values, purpose and identity, as well as our ability to interact with the world around us.
Confidence can be transformational. We hope that by following this process and making the right choices along the way, you too will notice a transformation in your own life. Happy reading, and good luck!
To learn more about how you can harness your confidence and achieve your win, pick up our book from whatdoesittaketowin.com.