From “No Talent” to 2X Olympian & Gold Medalist ... A Conversation with Leroy Dixon

Summary: What’s one thing we all have in common with Arianna Huffington and two-time Olympian Leroy Dixon? We all experience fear and doubt. These are two emotions that are felt at every level of performance, from novice to world-class. Striving for the next level and performing in moments that matter is scary, for everyone. There are also a couple fundamental differences that separates the best from the rest. I was fortunate enough to interview Leroy Dixon recently, and he shared two of the most important factors that helped him go from “no talent” to Olympian, gold medal winner and (did I mention?) the 7th fastest man every recorded in his event. Yes, Mr. Dixon has beaten Usain Bolt in his career. Maybe we are not going to be Olympians or one of the most successful authors and business women in the world, but we CAN be world-class at what’s important to us. As a matter of fact, I believe we MUST. The army of do-gooders must prevail, so the time for us to level up is now. Here are the two tips from Leroy Dixon to do just that: 1. Believe you can. Believe wholeheartedly that your dream is possible. I mean believe down to your DNA that you can achieve what you desire. This will require some work as we are filtering out our past thoughts, past failures, the nay-sayers and our loving family who doesn’t always say the right things. This is going to require some work even before your journey starts. Here’s the app (there is a free version) that I use personally and that all my clients use, ThinkUp http://apple.co/2rymDk8 2. Surrender in the moments that matter. Whether at the starting line of the 4 X 100 in the Olympics, walking into the first major launch meeting for Thrive Global, or it’s your first presentation to your new boss, Dixon shares that we must step outside ourselves and surrender to what we have shown up to do. Show up fully present and serve at your highest level without any worry of the outcome. Leroy Dixon was a “very small and skinny kid with no particular talent for sports.” It was his belief in himself and his ability to surrender fully in the moments that mattered. Of course, there were many important coaches and supporters along the way, but the message is this: Dream big, get a mentor or coach, and put in the work. There is absolutely no reason why you can’t be world-class at what’s important to you. The next time you have an important event coming up, try using the ‘How to Level Up’ worksheet to help you surrender, so you can deliver your best performance. Download the worksheet here for free: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BzysCqN9kDMeLTNac0w0RXQ4SDA/view?usp=sharing