Being Mentally Tough

Will Compton is a football player who went to the University of Nebraska and who originally signed as an undrafted free agent by the Washington Football Team. In his book, Uncommon Leadership, Ben Newman talks about how Will used his underdog mentality to fulfill his dream of becoming an NFL player.

Will was Mentally Tough - you have to be Mentally Tough if you want to achieve something great. Mental Toughness is critical if you want to be successful. 

Mental Toughness is when you set a STANDARD for how you want to work and live and never settling for less than that standard - no matter how you feel. Mentally tough people live by STANDARDS and not feelings.

Setbacks are a major part of every person's journey, and they were a part of Will's journey. When most people get passed over for something - like going undrafted - they quit. But Will didn't quit. He was able to lean on his Mental Toughness in those hard times. I am sure that there were moments when he felt sorry for himself, but Mental Toughness puts STANDARDS and habits above feelings. To be the best of the best, you can't let your feelings dictate how you show up and perform. Embrace challenges and look at them as opportunities to learn, grow, and prove yourself.

Set a Goal
Will Compton had goals to play big-time college football and to play in the NFL. What goals do you have for yourself? I set 3-5 goals for myself every morning and I write them in my journal or in my phone. I also have long-term goals that I have for myself. You have to know where you are going, and you have to have a reason - or purpose - for why you want to get there. When the going gets tough, your purpose is what will keep you motivated, encouraged, and inspired to keep going.

Set a Standard
A standard is how you do what you say you are going to do. A standard for me is to do everything on my goal sheet, every day, to the best of my ability. I won't leave my office until I have crossed everything off the list. I won't leave the gym until I make all of the shots that I said I was going to make. I won't leave the gym until I have made my last shot. What are some standards that you can set for yourself?

Stay Mentally Tough
Remember that setbacks are a part of everyone's journey, and they will be a part of your journey too. If you don't face setbacks, you might not be challenging yourself enough. If you never lose, you probably need to go to a more competitive gym. If you never mess up in a drill, you probably need to go harder or try harder skills. Growth comes from setbacks more than it comes from achievement, but you have to learn how to stay Mentally Tough and connected to your standards through adversity. When you know what your goals are and why, and when you have set standards for how you show up and live your life, the final step is sticking with it through the good and the bad. That is Mental Toughness.

Control Your Thoughts
You are responsible for how you think. When the tough times come, thoughts of doubt and fear will come too. Take responsibility for your thoughts. You can and have to control your thoughts because your thoughts control your actions. Controlling your thoughts is how you stay Mentally Tough and how you continue to live by the standards that you have already set for yourself. When you learn how to set aside your feelings and control your thoughts by tossing aside the useless baggage of negative thoughts and feelings, you can focus on what really matters.

Learn how to measure your success by teaching yourself how to think properly. This is a skill you can learn and repeat over and over again for the rest of your life.

Will Compton was an underdog who made it. He had a goal, he set standards for himself, he stayed mentally tough through the process by controlling his thoughts and living by the standards that he set through the good and the bad. This is a process that you too can repeat.