The truly tough man is the one who can stay grounded in his values and focused on his goals when things are challenging. When things in life don’t go according to plan, the tough man will exhibit a determination to reach his goal no matter the obstacles. -Tony Dungy
In all great recipes there is a key ingredient that makes the dish special and delicious. Mental toughness is that ingredient in preparing a successful life and the quality that keeps us on course and fighting. Mental toughness is the first and most important quality of successful people. I have never met a person of worth that wasn’t mentally tough because it allows us to develop all the other key qualities for success. Without it, we would be overwhelmed and quit when things get difficult which would lead us to compromise our principles to get around tough times. We would also let up when things are good. With it, we push on through all circumstances, good and bad. Mentally tough people are result oriented, fulfilled,optimistic and in control of our own destiny.
The honest and painful truth about life is that there are no magic fixes. Success is a result of hard work and persistence no matter how you slice it. Life is hard! Winning is tough! We must be tough and persevere to accomplish worthwhile goals. This is why we need PMA. The path is never easy and we can’t dance around it. It will be hard, but believing in ourselves unwaveringly allows us to Fight and Work when others quit because we are committed to being mentally tough!
“Get Tough!”, “Toughen Up!”, “Let’s find out what we are made of!” Statements like these are heard daily in all walks of life. We are always being told to be tough, have thick skin, and push through tough times. The irony of this is that no one ever teaches us how to be tough! In fact, most people don’t think toughness can be taught, but rather, it is some innate trait that you are either born with or not. Much like how people tell us to be positive without guidance, they expect us to get tough without teaching us how. Toughness can and should be taught! I spend most of my time as a coach trying to develop toughness in my players. It is one of the most vital traits young people can have to prepare for success as they enter into the real world.
It is important to define what toughness is because it is misconceived terribly in our society today.
It has nothing to do with physical prowess or machismo.
IT is not loud or flamboyant.
It is not always manifested in great displays of heroism.
It does not blame, complain or defend.
It has nothing to do with physical feats or acts of valor. These can be a result and by-product of toughness.
At 90 pounds, Mother Teresa was one of the toughest people in the history of the world. She was not tough because of her stature or physical feats. She was tough because of her strong mindedness and determination. While she was a courageous and bold person, Mother Teresa displayed her toughness by making change without the use of brute force. She fought relentlessly for the rights and well-being of others and succeeded because of her resolve toward her mission. She stood up to powerful people and made them be accountable to humanity by being bold and honest with them. She held others accountable by setting the example of how to serve in her own life. Through her actions, she made the world a better place.
Toughness is cultivated and built in quiet times of work and reflection and is displayed daily in the way we approach life. Tough people are accountable to themselves and others. Toughness is a mindset. Anyone can be tough. Toughness is manifested by following certain principles consistently throughout life regardless of circumstances. These principles can be learned and consciously worked on every day. They teach us to be tough by giving us the power of persistence and hope. These teachable qualities are aggressiveness and courage, consistency, strong mindedness, the drive to tackle adversity, and the love of pressure. When these qualities become our daily habit, we develop the secret ingredient that gives us a chance for success — metal toughness.
Win with PMA 