World Class and the power of 3

Deliberate Intent invokes Deliberate Learning' which leads to 'Deliberate Practice' What does it mean and why should you care?

The 3 things to master to be the very best (The Deliberate3)

- Deliberate Intent –?'Something done consciously and intentionally'

- Deliberate Learning –?'focussed on a specific learned goal'

- Deliberate Practice?–?'repeated exercise in or performance of an activity or learned skill so as to acquire proficiency'

Why are these often ignored, what makes deliberate learning and/or practice so difficult? The answer ironically is a lack of Deliberate Intent...

?Mental focus is the biggest constraint to perfection, are you a learner, do you tell yourself you aren't? Be careful about what you tell yourself. I'm always late is simply an excuse for not applying 'Deliberate Intent' I'm a terrible learner is just an excuse for not giving the time and attention to that single task, in other words 'Deliberate Intent'.

What separates World-Class performers from everybody else? Lets look at a few examples. What makes Lukhanyo Am, Rory McIlroy, Steven Spielberg, Magnus Carlsen, Bradley Wiggins or Cristiano Ronaldo so amazing. Natural talent or course! Hard work yes! In reality though, its none of the above, whilst they are contributing factors, excellent performance is in our hands far more than most of us ever expect.

?These people are driven by their intrinsic motivation. They enjoy the activity or see it an opportunity to explore their potential therefore Intent, Learning and Practise come easily.

Talent is the ability to perform better than others. Talent alone will not get you far, it is the practice that counts. Here are some examples of the deliberate3:

• Mozart's genius is a legend. Mozart was not able to achieve his greatest potential until he had practiced for more than 10,000 hours. Intention, Learning, Practise.
• Tiger Woods talented? Tiger Woods was seven months old when his father gave him a putter. He was already two years old when he started to practice regularly on a course with his father. Father and son both attribute Tiger's success to his 'intentional work ethic', not to talent. Intention, Learning, Practise.
• London Taxi Drivers, who need to learn "the knowledge" (all routes/roads in London), have brains that are much more advanced than the average person as a result of Deliberate Intent, Learning and Practise.

?All of us have the ability to adapt. It is the Deliberate3 that makes the difference between an average performer or an elite performer. This should be great news for everyone. Why? It means that you and I can do anything we want. The brain and body don't discriminate. You will become more comfortable once you step outside your comfort zone. Here's some strategies you may want to consider:

1. Set clear, specific goals - Establishing a goal or purpose for your practice is essential. This will give you a reason to train. Once you have established your goal, break it down into specific actions.

2. Give 100 percent of your attention - It is essential that you give 100% to your practice. You are therefore prohibited from allowing distractions or interruptions. Full focus, be Present. Concentration at a high level. Concentration is key. Distractions are just a click away in today's connected world. One way to eliminate distractions is to set aside a time and place each day to be intentional/practice/train. It is helpful to have a partner in training who shares the same goal and purpose.

3. Find a coach/teacher - Coaching/teaching can help you improve your performance by providing practice activities. Research shows that most successful musicians, athletes, and business people have an army of coaches who help them to accelerate their success. A coach can help you achieve your goals and will expect you to do what they say.

4. Get feedback - It is important to know where you are failing and what you can do better. You need to get feedback. The sooner the better. Coaching will help you change your mindset and expand your mind. Coaching will help you clarify your problems, help you overcome them or guide you on how to move forward.??

5. Get out of your comfort zone - It is necessary to get out of your comfort zone in order master the Deliberate3. This is the most important aspect you won't improve if you don't push your limits.

There is no shortcut. You must practice a lot to reach expert performance. If you put in enough practice, you can be a great performer.

You might believe that you are just lacking talent, bad at maths and terrible at languages. All of this is false, just like being late, employ the deliberate3 and those beliefs fade away.

Do you want to excel at something specific, to be World Class? Here's how to do it. Emulate the best performers/ players. Learn how they train and the secrets that make them so great and if in doubt you should look for a coach that can assist you with training and programs that will help you perform at the same level as, or better than, the professionals, the elite, or simply those you admire most.