Training essential for success

LAST week I wrote about the bass fishing competition that we had in Darwendale recently and how the eventual winner attributed his success in the competition to training hard.
I also highlighted the different kinds of training and practice that different sportsmen engage in to prepare themselves for competition and likewise how companies can use such tactics to get ahead in business.
In this second and last instalment I wish to continue exploring the subject a little bit more.
A critical aspect of “training hard” is the counselling of employees in soft issues such as family bereavement, anger, handling divorce or separation and emotional stress.
Legendary coaches such as Sir Alex Ferguson are extremely good in managing players’ soft issues.
Wayne Rooney was counselled on his marital problems and he is now almost at his peak courtesy of Ferguson’s managerial excellence.
After rehearsals players will be mentally prepared for the game.
The preparation is done in a controlled environment but the game is played in an uncontrolled environment.
Winning a game comes from what you know and reflexes in an uncontrolled environment.
I once set a goal of doing 30 press-ups every day. I failed dismally in this regard.
I could only achieve 10 press-ups, which I did twice a week. I decided to consult our aerobics fitness trainer Mugowe for advice. I will never forget what he said to me.
He said: “Ben, if you want to be strong you have to learn to internalise pain.
“You must continue doing press-ups even when it is painful. You can never be strong if you are not willing to subject yourself to the rigour of training.”
“But the moment I feel the pain I stop,” I protested. “Anyway, let me suggest to you another way.
“Every time you feel the pain, fantasise about how you would feel passing through a shopping mall with beautiful girls admiring your muscular body.
“Think about it. It is a good feeling. You can be as strong as I am if only you think it is worth it.
“There is nothing about you that suggests that you can fail to achieve whatever you set out to get.”
Thereafter, it took me a few days to achieve my ambitious target. Now I am doing 105 press-ups!
Training can only be effective if you have conviction to do it.
For instance, I failed to reach my target because I did not have a strong WHY.
However, my instructor inspired me by giving me mental imagery of how good I would look in front of ladies. Do you have anyone that you think you can please by training hard?
Colossians 3v17 says ” . . . and whatsoever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.”
This is my major goal: to please God in whatever I do. Find yourself someone you can please by doing well.
Training determines whether one person is going to be successful as opposed to failure.
Training improves endurance.
Most talented high schools talents have failed to go beyond playing for their schools due to lack/unwillingness to train.
The major lesson I learnt from Sam Muripo, the international kyokoshin (karate) award winner, is that there is no point in having a karate skill if it is not supported by physical strength.
Ultimately the less skilful person is normally defeated in matches.
Training is painful but it delivers the desired results. One of Zimbabwe’s soccer legends, David Mandigora, narrated how he used to jog 10km every day before going for training sessions at Dynamos.
He told me that this greatly improved his endurance as a midfielder and the successful soccer career he had.
Training must be linked to specific goals which individuals/companies have. Companies with a high appetite for growth require skills such as project management.
It seeks to address specific needs such as ability to do networking (ability to do correct work schedules).
Training required to achieve vague goals such as completing work on time might be difficult to come up with.
Training can also take the form of own training. This is the most difficult method of training.
This is greatly encouraged for people who did not get the opportunity to go to school or who are not willing or not able to go back to school.
Their woes can be compounded if they are working for SMEs (small to medium size enterprises), which have no budgets for staff development.
This requires a streetwise approach. This might require you to closely associate (mentorship) with people who have attained certain skills.
This also requires people who have good listening skills and willing to learn in an uncontrolled environment.
This might require reading extensively on your own. The truth is you cannot cry forever for your lack of proper education. You have to find ways to circumvent this deficiency.
Training takes the form of on-the job training or higher education academics. Most people have gone for training and higher education training.
Education is supposed to work as a lubricant for critical thinking and analysis. It is supposed to make people more receptive to new ideas.
It is supposed to open new horizons in people’s lives, more equipped to navigate the uncharted waters.
But what is happening on the ground is different.
Most educated people have tended to think that
they deserve special preference to their less educated peers.
At worst some have tended to be arrogant. Some use education to alienate the less educated folks in golf clubs, country clubs, etc.
Most educated people appear to behave like skilful karate kids who are weak physically.
The karate will fail to defend them against stronger less skilful attackers. Education without works is nothing.
It helps nobody. An educated person sometimes behaves like a pastor who spends years preaching the gospel, which does not help the congregation to solve their physical problems and as a result it does not grow spiritually.
Therefore, educated people need to realise that what they have is just a tool (what you know in a controlled environment) but they need to use reflexes (networking, socialising, political games, etc) in the marketplace.