Gandhiji put it well “Strength does not come from physical capacity. It comes from an indomitable will.”
Will needs no introduction. It is our own self-control, self-discipline and self-regulation. Will power is one of the important keys for a successful life. We live in a world of instant gratification and temptation. The ads and application interface drive our decisions in many cases. There is no doubt all of us know this. We will look at the other aspect of will.
To quote, American Football Coach, Vince Lombardi, “The will to win is not nearly so important as the will to prepare to win.”
We want to be on the winning side of the match but mostly we don’t want to put on the required efforts. That’s what make the difference between the successful and the unsuccessful athletes. There are always there practicing to improve, staying ahead of the competitors.
The Indian ace shuttler, P V Sindhu, used to travel 60 kms to and fro through dense Hyderabad traffic to practice and make her game a level higher.
The greatest football player, Ronaldo, was mostly one of the first to arrive and last to leave the training field. He was always on the pitch improving on his individual skills.
There are numerous such examples if we turn the pages of the book of successful athletes of the world.
Lombardi’s quote is applicable on other aspect of lives too. Charles T. Munger, American investor, follows the principle by heart. Preparation is one of the four pillars of Charlie’s successful life. He reads thoroughly about the companies reports and balance sheets. He analyses different aspects and scenarios before coming to his final checklist. He may still drop the idea of investing if the company doesn’t cross out all the points on the checklist. He happily moves forward in the search of other company. Probably, moving happily to other task may be challenging for us after putting on so much hard work. That’s the boundary line which sets people apart.
“The more you prepare, the better you are at winning.”