Favorite Inspirational Quotes

Something almost magical happens when people break through the obstacles that hold them back and discover what is truly inside them.

Brian Biro (from Beyond Success)

Mike Brescia relates a story that is presumably from Brian Biro’s (and Coach John Wooden’s) book, Beyond Success. It’s basically about a young swimmer and Biro who both finally learn what to focus on.

In the 100 meter butterfly, this young girl would usually “die” at the end of the race. It became what she focused on knowing that this is what she always did. Once she made it into the Junior Olympics with luck and finally felt no more pressure to perform, she ended up turning in her best time ever.

Seeing this, Biro, as her coach, came up with an idea and discussed with her about how she had felt good swimming once the pressure was off. He told her to imagine the way she had felt while swimming so well at her next race. They both changed their focus from her “obstacle” of always dying at the end of the race to how great it felt when she was doing well, when there was just the joy of swimming with no pressure. They also discussed her putting out an extra burst of effort at the 75 meter point.

At her next race, they put this idea to work, the point of focus and the extra burst at the 75 meter point. Everyone, all her team members, family and friends, got involved in cheering her on, really going overboard at the 75 meter point. She ended up doing so well that when she finished and looked around, there were no other swimmers. She thought they had all finished and were already out of the pool.

Instead, she had shaved a whole 10 seconds off her personal best and finished so far ahead of the others, no one else was even close. Talk about amazing!

By focusing on the good, the wonderful spirit of success, she had broken through her obstacles and pulled off a tremendous coup.

This just goes to show where to keep your focus - on the prize. Rehearse success!

Tags: focus