'Peak Performance' from Hodson Associates

PEAK PERFORMANCE

'Winning Ideas To Help YOU Achieve YOUR Goals'

With the compliments of Tony Hodson, Hodson Associates

*** ISSUE 5 *** May 2012

The Victor

7 Ways to Great Days

Speed Stuns!

Online Resources

Get Connected

Quotable Quotes

Quick Links

More About Us

Tony on Twitter

Tony - Mountaineer and Photographer

Tony's Blog

Join Us on Facebook

Tony's Motivational Quote of the Month

'I felt today was my day and at this moment it was my chance to do one thing supremely well'.

ROGER BANNISTER

6 May 1954

First man to run a sub four minute mile

Greetings!

With just under three months to go before the London Olympics get underway, the brief article last month by former javelin throwing giant Olympian, Steve Backley OBE, clearly had resonance with all of our subscribers - based on the flood of emails I received!

With this in mind I've decided to continue the theme of winners and winning in this month's 'Peak Performance'. Whenever I'm in a conversation about winning and the importance of mental attitude, I am always drawn to the story of Roger Bannister.

For thousands of years, people held the belief that it was impossible for a human being to run the mile in less than four minutes. In ancient Egypt it was said that they released lions to chase after slaves in order to break the four-minute mile. These attempts proved to be futile. The best time ever recorded was 4:06, and there was no way the barrier would be broken.

Scientists, doctors and experts declared that there was no way, a man could run a mile under four minutes. They said that if any person should try, " His heart will jump right out of his body". This negative belief continued until a man by the name of Roger Bannister decided not to believe in the experts, and others. Roger Bannister believed in himself. He went through a systematic training program and on the 6 May 1954 he ran the mile in less than four minutes, 3:59.40 to be exact.

Thus the barrier was finally broken, and within eighteen months, 12 other runners also broke the four minute mile. The real story here is not the achievement in itself, although that of course was ground-breaking, it is the mental toughness that Bannister displayed in pursuit of his goal.

Roger Bannister, chose not to believe in others, but to believe in himself. He had to change his own belief about the possibility of the four-minute mile. He got into shape physically and mentally. He actually visualized himself breaking the four-minute barrier, since no one had ever done it before. The greatest aspect of his breakthrough was what it did for others. If Roger Bannister can do it, so can we!

I wonder how many 'ground-breaking' moments we'll see over the summer in London? Will Usain Bolt 'amaze' the world, do the impossible and run a time of 9.40 in the men's 100m? Whatever the outcome, Roger Bannister showed us that the first imperative is to believe that you can do it! Time will tell...

As mentioned last month, we now have our own Facebook page which I intend to use to share topical relevant content that simply can't wait until the next edition of 'Peak Performance'. Make sure you 'like' the page to receive 'exclusive' content; and a few 'shares' with other like minded people would be appreciated too!

Make sure you get your own copy of 'Peak Performance' delivered straight into your inbox by providing your preferred email address here. As always you can reach us via Twitter and Linked In if you prefer.

On a personal note a few people have suggested I share a link to my mountaineering and photographer website for those who may be interested, so here it is www.tonyhodson.co.uk

Enjoy a 'ground-breaking' month ahead in ALL that you do and 'til the next time 'live life on purpose'.

Best regards

Tony Hodson
HODSON ASSOCIATES
tel: 07970 272754
tony@hodson-associates.co.uk
www.hodson-associates.co.uk

'The Victor' by C.W. Longenecker

If you think you're beaten, you are,
If you think you dare not, you don't.
If you'd like to win, but think you can't,
It's almost for certain, you won't.

If you think you're losing, you've lost.
For out in the world we find
Success begins with a person's will,
It's all in the state of mind.

If you think you're outclassed, you are,
You've got to think high to rise.
You've got to be sure of yourself,
In order to win the prize.

Life's battles don't always go,
To the stronger woman or man.
But sooner or later, the person who wins,
Is the person who thinks that they can.

7 Ways to Achieve Great Days

Research in peak performance has uncovered techniques common to any high-achiever. Success is predictable. You can have more than what you have, because you can be more than what you are. You can be a better you.

The time-honoured principles here may seem over simplified because they've been put together in a rhyming and memorable form. But don't misjudge their power.

If you choose to use them, you'll reap a harvest of achievement far outweighing your efforts.

Read more here

Recommended Online Resources

With such an abundance of content on the internet, finding useful information is getting harder and harder. Having the time to trawl through 12.5 million 'hits' in response to the search for 'self-belief' is going to fill anybody's day pretty quickly. mouse

So hopefully I've saved you a job! I've included a few web-links here that I've used and found of value recently. I have no affiliation with the companies or derive any revenues from the links they're just worth a look, at least once and then decide for yourself.

Steve Backley's 'The Champion in All of Us' here
'Ten Leadership Tips' from Steve Jobs here
'Overcoming Pessimistic Thinking' learn the ABC technique here

Connect via Facebook

Our Facebook page is now up and running and we intend to use it as a primary means of sharing useful topical information that we come across on a weekly basis.

With Facebook registered user numbers now passed 800m people, I'd encourage you to 'like' and 'share' the page with your own network, I'm certain there will be many of your friends, family and colleagues who would also appreciate the content.

Click here or on the icon to go to the Hodson Associates page and don't forget to 'like' and 'share' whilst there to receive 'exclusive' content.

Quotable Quotes

Here are five of my personal favourites on the topics of 'winning' and 'mindset':

'If you want to continue to be the best in the world, you have to train and compete like you were second best in the world'

Steve Backley OBE

'Whether you think you can or you can't, you'll be right'

Henry Ford

'The only one who can tell you "You can't" is you and you don't have to listen'

Nike

'A champion is someone who gets up even when he can't'

Jack Dempsey

'What the mind can conceive and believe, the body can achieve'

Napolean Hill

You can access previous editions of 'Peak Performance' here

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