Performance is a Decision.

We recently accompanied my son to a long-distance test race in Mulhouse, France. The course runs along a canal, surrounded by nature. That morning, it was foggy and cold. All the athletes had to wait nearly two hours in the cold before they could finally start.

I was freezing.
They simply said, “That’s normal. It happens.”

No complaining. No drama.
They stayed motivated and even cheerful.

I asked my son what his goal was for that day. He was already among the top three and answered calmly:
“I’ll overtake the second-best.”

And he did.

At another regatta, I asked him how many boats were starting in the four and the eight. He replied, “I don’t know. We’re first.”

Exactly, I thought.
Focus is everything.

Of course, he has full awareness on the water and doesn’t crash into another boat. But it doesn’t matter how many teams compete or how strong they are. His energy is not spent on comparison. It is directed toward execution.

That kind of focus saves enormous energy, energy that can be invested in performance.

And that is my takeaway:

Less comparison.
Less distraction.
More focus.

Professional sport reminds me that clarity and concentration are powerful.
That is something I apply more consistently in everyday life. Love it!