Ian Thorpe’s Secret: Embracing Grit and Loving the Practice

A note to young leaders.
I recently sat next to Ian Thorpe at a dinner party.

I asked him whether he ever resented the countless hours he spent swimming laps in training.

His answer surprised me.
“Not at all. I actually enjoyed practice more than the meet. I’m a technician and a perfectionist at heart and practice gives you the opportunity to perfect your stroke, to make those minor adjustments that give you the edge over your competitors.”
Wow. No wonder he was such a champion. He had a supremely positive attitude towards practice and was committed to continuous 0.1% improvements.

He also told me that his training involved him occasionally being woken up in the middle of the night, given 30 minutes to limber up and then expected to race at top speed. All of this to prepare him mentally and physically for those occasions when he had slept poorly prior to a major race.
Behind the glamour lies the grit. Learn to love the grit and massive success is bound to follow.