A Lesson from American Football Legend Ricky Williams (Thirty Minute Mentors)

The Power of Mindset:

Your mindset shapes your success. As Ricky’s coach once said, "You're never as good as they say, and you're never as bad as they say." Success stems from how you define yourself to yourself. A winning mindset is built internally, not externally. It is all dependent on what you define yourself to yourself, and that is what makes you a winning person.

The Mentality of a Winner:

To make a winner mindset, the first step is to be far from your fantasies. It means that you shouldn’t say, "If such a thing was different, then life would be better." The first stage to success is being in reality. Ask yourself, "What am I successful at, and where do I struggle?" Get really clear with that. Try to forget those things you struggle with and put your energy into improving those things you are successful at. By investing in your strengths, your life can improve. Do not allow negative thoughts, excuses, reasons, justifications, and blame to enter your mind, as they represent a loser's mentality. Therefore, in summary, you need to eliminate negativity, focus on positive things, focus on the things that you can change and control, and emphasize the importance of self-awareness.

Reexamining Leadership:

Firstly, a great leader inspires other people to be leaders in their own lives. A leader needs to understand each individual’s potential and assist them in growing in their best condition. If each individual becomes more successful, they can assist the team to grow. As President Dwight Eisenhower defined leadership: "Leadership is the art of getting someone else to do something that you want done because he wants to do it." As a leader, you want to ensure you have team members who want to be there and will do anything to win as a team. Therefore, as a leader, you must ensure you have the right people on the team. Additionally, you need to identify the potential in your team members, connect the dots, and understand where they fit best. Life is always a progression; we can’t expect people to be perfect. We must see their potential and expand it.

Great Leaders Build Trust:

What do you learn from the best leaders? Basically, they are philosophers; their main job is to instill the culture. The best leaders embody what comes out of their mouths. People want to believe in their leaders and trust their actions and what they are building. It is impossible to trust someone whose words and actions are not aligned. When leaders fail to practice what they preach, people stop believing in them, and they lose trust and respect. Therefore, trust is the foundation of leadership, and leaders must work to earn and maintain it.

Motivation and Inspiration:

How do you motivate yourself on the days you are not motivated? What are the best tips to stay on top and always handle pressure? Basically, inspiration and motivation are different. Motivation is about getting yourself to do something you really don’t want to do. Leaning too heavily on motivation is unsustainable in the long term. Instead, look for inspiration. When you find inspiration, it will naturally motivate you. If you feel inspired, you need less motivation. For example, striving to be the best can serve as a powerful source of inspiration.

Applying the Lessons of a Football Player to Business:

First and foremost, teamwork is crucial. Understand the difference between being a team member and a leader who creates the team. Learn how teams function and how they don’t, and apply this understanding to new areas. Creating a team is one of the most profound lessons. A team is like a family, working toward a shared goal. This dynamic allows for intense work. Success is built on honesty and trust. Finally, you must keep learning. Stay humble enough to understand that you always need to start anew and keep learning. The best leaders are lifelong learners with a mindset that they don’t know as much as they should.

Leadership Principle:

Lifelong learning is key. Create a work environment where people feel they are getting something more than just a paycheck. This is where inspiration comes in, as previously discussed. Understand who your team members truly are, and avoid holding them to the same expectations as yourself. Embrace differences. Great leaders recognize the uniqueness of each individual and foster an environment where everyone can thrive.