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Anyone can stand strong when the game of life is going their way. But who are we when the pain comes? It’s what we do when we’re down that counts most. That’s the critical, defining moment. So when it isn’t going as planned and we’re knocked repeatedly on our butt what do we do?

Here are some tactics from the world of fighting to us prepare and handle those situations like a champion:

CHAMPION TACTICS

1. Prepare. Prepare. Prepare.
   It (the unexpected) will happen.

   Count on it. Then plan for it.

   Have you thought about what you’d do if you lost your job or if your business went belly-up?

   What would you do if your book or movie was a flop?

   What if you don’t make the first round pick?

   Sure it’s impossible to plan for every possible situation, but we can certainly prepare better. Champions continually seek to improve their conditioning so they’re ready if (and when) they’re knocked down and pinned.

   Although most of what we worry about never happens, planning prepares us.

2. Have someone in your corner.
   This is huge. We all need a support system.

   Forget Hollywood’s portrayal of the champion that did it entirely on their own. That just doesn’t happen.

   When preparing for battle (and life can certainly be that, among other things),  we need someone to wrap our hands for the fight. When we falter and our confidence is shaken, we need sound advice and encouragement.

   We need someone to echo the champion’s voice when we can’t hear our own. And when you’re hurt, you want a good “stitch man” who won’t panic but instead will ice your wounds and stop the bleeding.

3. Remain calm.
   Focus on breathing deeply. Remain calm and in the moment. Look for the opening. Look for the opportunity. There’s always an opportunity if you’re ready for it. You just have to remain calm and watch for it.
4. Redefine yourself – Continually.
   In the world of Mixed Martial Arts, fighters have to do it all the time.  A formidable striker becomes a great grappler. Some fighters do it out of necessity, some for the love of the sport. The true champion does it for both.
5. Remain teachable.
   This quality goes hand in hand with redefining yourself. Champions remain students. They understand, as George Leonard expressed in his must-read book Mastery, that “the road to mastery never ends.”
6. Focus on the immediate.
   Focus on what you can do – right now. Be in the moment – in the NOW. Champions understand that you can’t change yesterday or even 10 seconds ago. You must let that go. So stop wasting time and energy on the past and focus on the immediate. That’s what you and I have. Right now. You want to make a difference? You want to make a comeback, it starts right now. This very second.
7. Recognize the resistance.
   Learn to recognize the “resistance” within – what I call the chump. The small voice inside that insists upon safety and so-called security rather than bold, belief, and action.
8. Push through the fear.
   Learn to face your fears and push through them. Most of them are completely unfounded and based on nothing more than worry. Sure you’re scared. That’s okay. Remember that courage isn’t the absence of fear but the willingness to face it and take action anyway.
9. Stick to your plan.
   If you did your homework, stick to your plan. As I said in a previous post, on your back isn’t the time for that crazy ninja maneuver you heard about but never practiced. Remain with the basics because they tend to have the highest returns.
10. Bring the Passion!
    Love it or get out. It’s that simple. Sure it’s work. Damn hard work in fact. But if you don’t love it (plateau, pain and all), why are you doing it?