Tip to the Top
Using Coaching to Achieve Excellence
By Elizabeth George, CAPS Calgary
The magazine article read: “Perhaps the biggest sensation among the juniors was 19-year-old Elizabeth McKay [me], who not only took second place in both the national standard rifle events, but shot her way to a berth on the women’s international team, nosing out tried-and-true competitors. She was making her first trip to the Nationals, and she’d only been shooting standard rifle about eight months. But she had two big advantages – she was part of a winning team and was being coached by a double Olympic Gold Medalist.”
Replace my name with your name. Replace my coach with someone outstanding in your field. And the article about you will read the same.
While I don’t believe there are any shortcuts to excellence, I know with certainty that you have a choice of routes. Each has different lengths of time and levels of agony. Which do you want? To do it right the first time…or do it until you get it right? I recognize that I presented the question in a simplified manner. No matter which route you choose; you will practice, study, invest, practice and deliver all before you perform with excellence. It’s really a question of how many times you repeat the process before you reach the world-class performance level.
I think of myself as a product, a performer, a form of intellectual property. My method is to find the very best in my field, introduce myself, build a relationship, and then seek coaching. Sometimes, the tips are free and are given in generosity. But, realistically they shouldn’t be. I believe in serious intellectual investment.
From international rifle competitor and world champion crossbow, to “Top 40 Business Executive Under the Age of 40”, to 2nd chair French Horn in an orchestra, to author and professional speaker, I have received awesome experiences and instruction from individuals who have excelled at a phenomenal level. Let me share with you my tips to the top from my belief team and coaches from across my life:
“Train to be a winner: you must have a clear self-image of yourself as a winner in competition.” Bill Pullum, premier rifle coach in the world
“Create consistent performance under pressure on demand, develop an edge and performance control with the use of mental management and rehearsal.” Lanny Bassham, Olympic Gold Medalist, Mental Management® Systems
“Elizabeth, you have it in you to do it.” Lones Wigger, double Olympic Gold Medalist, greatest rifle shooter in U.S. history
“Fearlessness is a mental state of complete faith in the moment at hand, and any task ahead. There is a lack of awareness of any obstacles, self-imposed or otherwise.” Jeff Nelson, Canadian Brass French Hornist, author of soon to be released: Fearless Auditioning: Perform brilliantly in front of anyone
“The horn, your music, what you love must speak to your soul.” Mary Fearon, French Horn, Edmonton Symphony Orchestra
“As you approach each phrase, think of yourself as lifting a horse across a jump. Lean in, look forward, imagine the landing.” Allene Hackleman, Principal French Horn, Edmonton Symphony Orchestra
“You must have two teams: a belief team and a strategic team. Make sure you nurture relationships with both.” Natashia Halikowski, Intuition Works, CAPS Calgary past president,
“Your personal and professional success depends on the diversity and quality of your interpersonal relationships.” David Nour, Social Networking Strategist, Relationship Economics
“A great book title and subtitle transforms your message into a highly recognizable brand. The back cover text of your book closes the sale.” Graham Van Dixhorn, Write to Your Market, creator of my book title and cover text
“As you write your book, you must find your voice, blend it with your audience’s needs, and build the concept into a framework for your integrated marketing system.” Dr. Patricia Ross, Roberts and Ross Publishing, editor of my book
“As an expert who speaks — you don’t have to know how to write to create a best-selling book — get an editor!” Jill Lublin, international speaker, best-selling author of Get Noticed…Get Referrals
“Do not trust how you feel about a daily process — instead trust the process.” Mark LeBlanc, NSA past president, Small Business Success
“The power of fanatical focus takes outrageous courage. Gain clarity. Develop congruence. You don’t have a speaking life and a private life; you have a life.” Toni Newman, Professional Catalyst, CAPS Montreal past president.
Elizabeth E. George, M.A. runs a relationship building company called Prefix Solutions Inc. She works with people who want to find a love that lasts a lifetime and use the Compatibility Code to find the right match. Author of The Compatibility Code: An Intelligent Woman’s Guide to Dating and Marriage. Reach Elizabeth at 866.960.1415 egeorge@yourprefix.com and www.TheCompatibilityCode.com
