A superb example of how regaining hope and self belief can make a material difference in your performance, results and enjoyment in events and training.
Joe Skipper talks through his IM Wales experience. Pay close attention from ~38 minutes as Joe outlines having a mechanical and the events that unfold afterwards.
The key changes I’d like you to notice in the timeline of his experience are:
- The initial incident – the point the plan needs to change BUT usually there is a lag between the trigger and the implications
- Realisation of the impact – it’s not a simple fix. The implications start. The expectations of the future becoming invalid.
- This is the “wobble point” – How quickly can you regain control, reset the mind and move to plan b.
- Impact of others on mindset / comparison – competitors passing
- The loss of hope and self belief on the original expectation – “my race is over, my race is over” – 42mins. The “grief” and associated perceived lack of control and certainty that comes when the old expectations are lost.
- Critical “switch” – The phone call with Laura has a major reset point. This switch is essential to the success.
- Self belief returns – “A New Hope”. There is an immediate restoration of self belief. This is based on creation of a new plan. The goal is now to catch the others. It’s been done before when 30 minutes behind. Control is regained.
- Purpose and execution of the new plan – Joe now works through the new plan, one step at a time. Mentally working the problem and well as physically.
- To take the win!
- Matt Damon 2015 – working a problem https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mDYCLFE86Po
So what lessons can you take from above. As from the movie clip, at some point things may well go wrong. If you can retain your self belief through “the wobble” and move quickly to switch – plan b, plan c, what ever it take to retain that resiliency to keep trying.
Training is not always about the physical. This mental preparation can be a key factor in how to deal with issues. For some it’s about working through individual scenarios and having a pre-prepared response, for others it’s keeping the bigger picture in mind that doesn’t change, so you can work the problems and achieve in your event or training.
What is your mental resiliency preparation? How quickly can you move from wobble to switch to execution?
Credit to Joe Skipper and Tom Oosterdijk and their podcast. Credit to Andy Warhol for his soup cans image. Credit to Lucas films Star Wars for the new hope picture. The imagery is there to give you a mental picture for when you have your potential “wobble”
