When I talk to kids about being successful and reaching their goals, I talk a great deal about having the intestinal fortitude and desire to succeed. If you don’t have a burning passion driving you to be the best, whether it is in sports, school, or in life, chances are you will not reach your full potential. However, there is another very important factor that can’t be discounted, and that is your environment. Chances are, if you surround yourself with positive influences and role models that can help you in your quest to succeed, you will succeed. The opposite also holds true. If you surround yourself with negative influences and take advice from the wrong people, you probably will fall short of your aspirations.
In the video above, Dr. Rob Bell, a sports psychologist and author of “The Hinge,” talks about these external factors, or as he calls it, “The Culture of Excellence.” Dr. Bell goes into detail describing how your environment can help dictate whether you are successful or not, even if you have the internal drive to be the very best. Using examples such as LPGA Golfer Se-ri Pak, Kenyan runners and boxers from Cuba, Dr. Bell shows us that immersing yourself in a “Culture of Excellence,” can be the tipping point to help you achieve your goals. So start working on your mental game by building your “Culture of Excellence,” and see your physical game go to the next level.