Rehabilitation in Sport - Ben Cousins return

Controversial AFL player Ben Cousins continues his comeback campaign to the national game following the AFL ruling. Despite stringent drug testing imposed on Cousins requiring up to 3 drug tests a week, he is keen to be drafted into a club for the 2009 season. There are many points of view on whether Cousins should play or not, and under what conditions, and it begs the question, how do we allow someone to move forward from their past mistakes?
Dale Carnegie, renowned for his business and leadership training, has said "give people a grand reputation to live up to." The point being, that what we expect to see is what we get. If we expect someone or something to go wrong, we will look for all the evidence that supports this belief, and overlook all the times that it goes right. We are all 'creators' or our reality and if there is a collective belief that Ben Cousins is going to 'stuff up' again, then we might all be proven right.
To get ahead in anything you want to get up more times than you fall down. As long as you keep striving, and that each time you fall you get up again, then you will succeed. Cousins has fallen hard more than once, but let's not push him down. When a toddler starts to walk and they fall down two, three, four times....are you going to give up on him/her ever walking? Of course not.
Perhaps if we give him, and others returning from rehabilitation of any sort, the support and belief that people can change, then Ben Cousins is more likely to return to his sporting glory. I hope he does.

Retirement & Comebacks in sport

When is it a good time to retire? It took me three times to finally retire from sport. The first time I retired was because I had reached my goal of playing in the Olympics and thought there was nothing left to do in the sport. The second time I retired was because I thought I was getting old (37 y.o) and I should take care of my back (screws had held it together since '92). When I retired the third time, at age 41, it was for the right reasons - I had a new passion and new goals to finally convince me to put away the competition cozzie/togs/bathers/swimsuit for good.
Australian, Geoff Huegill, just announced his comeback to swimming with aims to swim in 2010 Commonwealth Games. He cites is health and weight as a major reason for returning to swimming and also feels he has unfinished business.
Lance Armstrong is making his official comeback to competitive cycling in January in South Australia for the 2009 Tour Down Under. His reasons seem to be more about raising awareness for cancer, than cycling per se.
And Layne Beachley, Queen of the surf, 7 times world champion, recently announced her retirement, excited about the business opportunities ahead of her.
Each athlete will have their own reasons for retiring, returning or even staying in sport. I think it's important for an individual to wisely consider their motivation for either - is it positive and towards something they want to do, or is it motivated by pain, moving away from an undesired situation eg lack of success outside of sport. Having a positive direction to move towards is inevitably a more empowering motivation that produces results.
A key to successful transition is identity. I realised my identity was wrapped in being a sportsperson and as long as that remained, I always floated back to that. Once I learnt to identify myself as something new - a business person and entrepreneur, it was easy to change my actions, my results and therefore my life.

Australian Cricket - Captain-Crew communication

I was just reading about some issues arising during the second cricket test between Australia and India where there was some obvious disagreement. Australian captain, Ricky Ponting was physically expressive when discussing tactics with bowler, Brett Lee, demonstrating that all was not well. The author of the article, Malcolm Conn, suggested Ponting would have been better off communicating in a less demonstrative way and may have got his point across more clearly to Lee in a calm and mannered way. The audience woud have been none the wiser about any existing problem.
It brought to my mind how effective are the rest of us at communicating with our team to get the best results. Each individual has a team within themselves - the communication between the conscious mind and the unconscious mind can be likened to the communication between a Captain and his team. The more aligned and on the same path, the better the results for all.
Are you communicating with your team - are you giving clear instructions? do your words and your feelings match? My latest e-book "Power of Communication" will help you to communicate more clearly towards geting better results in all areas of life. Visit www.annetteffect.com.au in coming days to access this information.

Seve Ballesteros and getting around obstacles

Do you wish that life would run more smoothly and that you didn't have to deal with obstacles? I was asked how I approach obstacles during a live tele-call last week. When you look back over your life, you will see that the obstacles you have faced and dealt with have shaped you into the person you have become. We all need challenges to grow and it is how you deal with the obstacles in your life that will determine how quickly you overcome them to get to your desired goal.
I just read that golfing great, Seve Ballesteros, has been diagnosed with cancer and his response is "During my career I was one of the best at getting around obstacles on golf courses. Now I want to be the best at confronting the most difficult match of my life with all my strength." Do you think that that attitude will help him recover more than if he focused on the problem of having the cancer.
It has been said "keep the end in mind" and it was the attitude of another famous golfer, Greg Norman ("Way of the Shark"). By knowing where you want to go, and being committed to that goal, you will find a way. It's just a matter of how and trust your unconscious to guide you there. If one way around an obstacle is not working, then find another way. It that doesn't work, find another way. How many time? As many as you need until you succeed. How much do you want it?

Learning from Anthony Robbins

Always keen to learn more, I went to Anthony Robbins "Unleash the Power Within" last week-end in Sydney. It was wonderful to watch Tony's artistry in using the skills and techniques that I commonly use in my coaching. He reminded me of the power of using your body posture to influence your emotions. Often we allow our emotions to dictate our posture, and this can accentuate the emotion - positive or negative. Think about how you sit when you are depressed and when you joyful. Two very different body positions, aren't they?
How does your body posture affect your ability to train, play and/or compete. When things tight or not going your way, is your body responding in the same way? Or are you using your body to life yourself up and hold your head up high so that you can start getting back into the game or competition.
It's not always easy to get onself out of a bad mood or down state, so next time you find yourself feeling negative, sit up, pull your shoulders back and put your head up. If you're game, you might even try curling up the corners of your mouth - aah yes, there it is, a smile!

Playing by the Rules & Cameron Smith

The big news in Australian sport this week is the shock that Melbourne Storm captain, Cameron Smith, will miss the Australian Rugby League final due to his suspension. Stung for a 'grapple tackle' on Bronco's player, Sam Thaiday, Cam's protest is that other players had done it and gotten away with it. Though he is prepared to cop the 2-game suspension, Cam's argument sounds like one from a primary school playground. You know the one. "Oh Miss, they did it too!" (say it with a whiny voice for added effect).
The point still remains that tackling around the head and neck is dangerous and can have nasty and even fatal consequences. It reminds me of a quote by Oprah Winfrey, "“Real integrity is doing the right thing, knowing that nobody's going to know whether you did it or not.” Don't do something just because you can get away with it, even though it may do harm to another. A true champion values integrity and will avoid the attitude of winning at all costs. The cost can be too great so why risk it.
Football players and all athletes need to start taking responsibility for their actions and consider doing the right thing, rather than stretching the rules.

Let it Go

Have you ever noticed times when you try and try to get a result and nothing seems to work, and then you give up or let go. Isn't it funny how once you let go, that things start to work out for the best? Perhaps that very thing you were striving for occurs easily and effortlessly.
My philosophy on going for goals is this:
Setting a goal gives you direction and helps you create the life of your dreams. Once you set the goal, become confident and trust that it can and will occur. And then, here's the tricky bit, you need to let go of it HAVING to happen. Or at least for it having to happen exactly as you plan. This very letting go, ironically, increases your chances of achievement.
Yes, you still take action towards you goal and do whatever it takes.
The distinction is that by letting go you open yourself up to going with the flow and seeing the opportunities that present themselves. It gives you the ability to adjust to changed circumstances. If you are limited to only 'one way' then you might be shutting yourself to necessary detours or shortcuts.
Letting go allows you to focus on and enjoy the process and appreciate the present.
Where in life can you let go? You can find more of my insights and learnings through my newsletter. Read past issues of AnnetteffectNews now.