What we learned about the gold medal mindset from Dr. Jason Richardson
The gold medal mindset is the mindset of a champion. It’s how winners look at life and take on challenges.
Dr. Jason Richardson has competed as a world champion athlete in BMX biking, winning the gold medal in the Pan American Games. He also earned his MBA and Doctorate in Psychology. He follows a "Gold Medal Mindset" which is his approach for a championship life.
As a speaker, trainer, and consultant, Richardson focuses on helping individuals reach their potential by evolving their mindset and using the best practices in neuroscience, behavioral science, positive psychology, sport psychology, and good ol' fashion wisdom.
He is also a published author of a book that takes a look at these concepts. It's All BS! We're all wrong, and you're all right! helps you understand your belief systems so you can take control of your life.
We had the chance to talk to Richardson to get his opinion on how people can incorporate the gold medal mindset into their everyday lives to reach success.
Our belief systems are the direct cause of the results we don’t like
Part of Richardson’s methodology is to learn about his client's unique belief systems and the flip them on their head.
According to him, belief systems–even ones we aren’t even aware of–directly cause the things that cause us distress.
To move to a gold medal mindset, first you need to discover the belief systems you hold. These are basic things, like nature versus nurture, where you are born, and when you were born. These are things that build our beliefs. We hold certain beliefs, and then unconsciously our brains fill in the blanks.
Sometimes we’re not accurate. We work with things that work for us but aren’t the real truth or real facts. These lead to a series of problems.
Beliefs lead to feelings, feelings lead to actions, and actions lead to results.
Results that we may not be happy with, but not even realize why they have happened. Instead, we get caught up on feelings. Specifically, on feeling bad. And, we think because we feel that way something must be wrong. But that’s not the case.
In the real world, if someone snatches your wallet, you’re going to have feelings about that. Most likely either fear or anger, feelings that will likely spring you into action. You may run after the thief, fight back, or protect your children. These negative feelings are a good thing and cause a good action. But in the workplace, we don’t view these emotions the same way. We think they’re bad. In reality, they’re just telling us something is important. We need to listen to them and spring into action.
You need to work to distill what your beliefs are. Once you do so, you can realize and understand which stories you’ve been telling yourself are wrong.
Where do we hold ourselves back?
Most of it is fear based, according to Richardson. And it goes back to the stories we tell ourselves. We see where we want to be, but there is dissonance of how we get there. Then we tell ourselves stories about why we’re not there or why someone else is where we want to be. They cheated or they have better marketing, whatever reason we come up with, that must be it.
We tell ourselves, “I’ve tried everything, nothing works.” But that’s a fallacy we tell ourselves because we want to be unique, Richardson said. What works for everyone else must not work for you because you are so special?
We have to learn to be more intellectually honest with ourselves (otherwise your mind will keep playing tricks on you). Once we are honest with ourselves, it will help you get where you want to go, without a lot of baggage.
If you have a specific target, maybe getting the check signed by a new client, choose process-oriented goals that will help you get there.
- Goal: Get good sleep that night.
- Goal: Make sure we have all the cables ready for presentation
- Goal: Charge the computer
- Goal: Get a bottle of water before the presentation and hit the bathroom before it’s time to go on
Process-oriented goals keep you distracted from the things you are scared to do, namely failure. Keep yourself focused on things you can control and that are simple. It will allow you to do what you know how to do, and it will enable you to be yourself as opposed to being a deer in the headlights when it’s go-time.
Things that leak your power:
- Comparing yourself
- Complicating things
- Worrying
Get power from:
- Simplifying
- Focusing
- Accepting
- Gratitude
How to get committed to the gold medal mindset
The gold medal mindset is all about a championship life. In all aspects, money, fitness, and business. If you could create a Venn diagram out of those three things and create some convergence, then you would be winning. But, most people don’t think they have time for all three. So, the pick one, like more time or more success. But the one thing they don’t ask for is the convergence of those three concepts: purpose, growth, and expansion. This is the key, Richardson said.
So, getting committed to the gold medal mindset is a matter of finding where and what your purpose might be. What do you really want? Ignore Mom and Dad, the neighbors, your friends, and focus on what you truly want. Once you do that, the commitment is already there.
Next, separate your circumstances from your excuses. Nobody makes the choice to be born; we don’t decide who our parents are. That’s just who we are. We have cards we are dealt with. The thing you must do is pay attention to your life and story enough to know the facts and use everything you’ve been through, done, and experienced and leverage that to bring about your success.
If you don’t have the answers, find them. If you don’t have the money, make some. If you don’t know the people, meet some.
Chances are good you already know enough and have enough around right now to do what you want to do.
Richardson said you will get there because you have time. It is your time now; you are not dead yet. You’re still here, and it will be your time as long as you are breathing. So whatever you are doing with your time, do things that matter.
See what Dr. Jason Richardson has to say on his book and the gold medal mindset. Watch our #TrainingTuesday here.
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