A big obstacle that holds many people back is a belief that certain skills or talents are inherited and cannot be learned. For example, many people say that they are not a natural sales person or public speaker. But, in reality, these are skill sets that can be learned.
Other talents might be harder to acquire. Can charisma be taught? How can you coach resilience?
While training for an Ironman triathlon race, I have realised that some of these less tangible skills or states of mind can be learned. Mental toughness is one area that I have improved as a result of training consistently for five months, watching diet and curtailing social occasions. When I was in Hainan over February I realised that another factor - the environment - was a new challenge. Extremely hot weather with strong wind blasts were not in my mind when I was in the gym in January. But each challenge becomes another checklist of ways to work through and around the challenge.
Over the next few blogs I am going to share what I have learned in the preparation for the Ironman. Lesson number one is if you want to build mental toughness, do something challenging that seems almost impossible to acheive.
A large challenge that makes you ask yourself, “Can I really do this?” or “This is a massive challenge” is about right. Today I am sitting in Hainan with 30 days until the race and training in the heat and I am still asking myself this question. A good challenge is one where you need to be on your game right up until the final minute.