No Easy Way Out, No Short Cut Around

So who would have thought it - Andy Murray becoming the 2013 MEN'S WIMBLEDON CHAMPION.

Andy Murray would've thought it, that's who.

And there was no easy way out for him, no short cuts around to get to the Wimbledon dream.

In case you weren't aware, Andy has three of the worlds all time best tennis players in his TOP 4 group. There's been no other four like them. And, for them to be playing all at the same time... INCREDIBLE!

Not only that; there's pressure put on Murray that's been dished out by many with the the absurd line of overcoming 77 years of hurt because of Britain not having a Wimbledon Champ since Fred Perry in 1936. (It's not 77 years of hurt at all; more accurately, it's 77 years of not being good enough - so where's the hurt in that!)

So what does a person do who has previously LOST his 4 grand slam finals? Would he recover from those defeats? Would he bounce back or curl up into the fetal position and pull the blanket over his head?

Because that's the situation Murray found himself in August 2012, at Flushing Meadows New York where the US OPEN was being staged.

Murray's fitness levels were always in question. He couldn't last the distance when fighting it out with the big guns. So, after sacking his former coach Brad Gilbert, Murray committed to whatever his new team of fitness trainers demanded of him.

He told them...

"Look, I've spent the last few years not pushing myself as hard as I should. If I don't do a session properly, I want you to tell me straight out. Tell me: "your attitude is wrong." Don't let me get away with anything"

Murray realised his fitness was an area he needed to work on. He was prepared to do anything. There was no 'torture' that Murray wouldn't consider.

He'd sit in yoga positions in 42 degree temperatures to get his body and mind conditioned.

He'd run sets of 100 metre, 200 metre and 400 metre sprints to build up his speed and stamina.

He'd get into the gym and be put through a separate muscle building and cardio induced workout. 

Oh, and let's not forget to add that Murray hired Ivan Lendl as his coach in 2011- winner of 8 major grand slam tournaments and someone whom Murray respects more than any other coach Murray has had because of what Lendl has achieved in the game and what he could bring to Murray because of that experience.

THIS is transformation.

It's not merely analysing where the knots and hiccups were and to simply leave it at that. NO. Creating a plan and working the plan so the problem is never a problem again, THIS is where the miracle and magic is.

There was no short cutting what needed to be done.

There was no easy way out to success.

There was no isolated Law of Attraction visualisation without ever doing the necessary and essential work.

Instead, there was pure commitment and dedication to create into existence a reinvented Andy Murray.

And did it pay off?

Well, he WON the US OPEN in 2012.

And... Andy Murray IS the 2013 Wimbledon Men's Champion. 

And in both finals, he outgunned and outlasted the IRON man of Tennis, Novak Djokovic! His transformation was complete.

So ask this question to yourself or to someone who needs to hear it:

"In what area of life have you not pushed hard enough for the gains you want, and... who or what will you have in place to not let you 'get away' with things?"


   

A Vote for Personal Dedication

Whilst global euphoria settles, Barack Obama has gone to work. To work on... MAKING THINGS WORK. To back up his commitment and dedication to his message of change.

There's a strong but scary belief that America's icon President is simply going to radically change the lives of not only millions of Americans, but the lives of millions all around the world.

In America, there's a strong current of belief filtering into the mindstream of many that says, "we don't have to do anything because we've elected the right man for the job and all our worries, miseries, bad fortune... will be washed away... we're free, thank the lord we are free".

It's simply not true.

It's as if winning the race for the Presidency will automatically mean that everyone will be instantly transformed! How dangerous is that!

Oh, how many of us wish for that to happen in our own lives. To be taken out of one's current misery, and then, transported on the wave of emotion to an equivalent White House of our own.

If Barack Obama thought like that, he'd have never dreamt of 'going into' politics... let alone become the President of America in one of the most beautifully created campaigns you'd ever wish to see.

And for me, he IS a global icon. Bigger than any pop star, sports person, artist, writer, business person, you name it A TRUE role model. A person EVERYONE can learn from. And what has he got that we all look for in ourselves?

How about fierce dedication. How about unrelenting persistence. How about the courage and strength to stand up for what one believes. How about perfecting and practising his communication skills. How about the love for his family. How about the ability to lead himself and others. How about acting and doing, rather than wishing and hoping. How about voting for and believing in, oneself...

He's created a stir in the world like no other human being that I can think of. And, as with any significant victory, one cannot do it in isolation. Nothing creates impact like spirited cooperation. Nothing. And we should all bear that in mind, because...

It's hard being a successful hermit.