Update: We got 20 new 'Competitor's Bibles' in courtesy of FCA Wrestling National Director, NCAA Champion, and former U of I Head Coach, Carl Perry. These Bibles have great daily devotions in the back. They will help our coaches and athletes grow in and out of the huddle!

Jon Jones is the most competitive guy at I can think of. It seems the bigger the stage, the better he performs. That is a trait that I want to have and I think it is the mark of a great competitor.

So why does Jon Jones compete so well? I think a lot of it as to do with the fact that he loves to compete. He doesn’t care much about the pre-fight hype. He doesn’t seem nervous before he steps in the cage. It’s more like he is excited and ready to have fun!

I think if we as competitors learn to enjoy competition more, rather than letting our nerves get the best of us, we will compete to our full potential, and maybe, beyond.

The Parable of Talents (Mark 25:15-30)
14 “For it is just like a man going on a journey. He called his servants and turned over his possessions to them. 15 To one he gave five talents;[a] to another, two; and to another, one—to each according to his own ability. Then he went on a journey. Immediately 16 the man who had received five talents went, put them to work, and earned five more. 17 In the same way the man with two earned two more. 18 But the man who had received one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground, and hid his master’s money.
19 “After a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. 20 The man who had received five talents approached, presented five more talents, and said, ‘Master, you gave me five talents. Look, I’ve earned five more talents.’
21 “His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You were faithful over a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Share your master’s joy!’
22 “Then the man with two talents also approached. He said, ‘Master, you gave me two talents. Look, I’ve earned two more talents.’
23 “His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You were faithful over a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Share your master’s joy!’
24 “Then the man who had received one talent also approached and said, ‘Master, I know you. You’re a difficult man, reaping where you haven’t sown and gathering where you haven’t scattered seed. 25 So I was afraid and went off and hid your talent in the ground. Look, you have what is yours.’
26 “But his master replied to him, ‘You evil, lazy servant! If you knew that I reap where I haven’t sown and gather where I haven’t scattered, 27 then you should have deposited my money with the bankers. And when I returned I would have received my money back with interest.
28 “‘So take the talent from him and give it to the one who has 10 talents. 29 For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have more than enough. But from the one who does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him. 30 And throw this good-for-nothing servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
29 “For to everyone who has, more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but from the one who does not have, even what he does have shall be taken away. 30 Throw out the worthless servant into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

It is important to pin point our God-given talents and make sure we are investing in them well. When I look at my own talents, I feel God has blessed me with athletic ability, intelligence, and leadership skills.

I need to make sure I am getting the most out of what God has given me athletically. That means I need to study the mental game and compete to my full potential. I can take notes from Jon Jones and learn to enjoy competition and remember to always have FUN!

I can use my mind at work. By being successful in business I can use my God given talents to generate contributions to Kingdom building causes. I can use my leadership skills at Beebe Trained to help lead these kids to become better athletes and better men!

1 Corinthians 9:24-27

24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. 25 Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. 26 Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. 27 No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.

-This passage refers to an early international competition much like the Olympics. What makes the Olympics so important?
-What do the athletes get for winning?
-The award that these athletes won was nothing more than a crown made from a tree branch! How long will that last? ( the why or pay value in goal setting). 

3 P's of wrestling:
1. Preparation - studying the sport, the mental game.
2. Practice - developing the skills required to excel the sport and keeping them sharp. Technique, drilling,  strength & conditioning.
3. Performance - the actual competition. The endurance to compete and win; putting your desire and practice into action.

3 P's of spiritual training
1. Preparation -the desire to know and follow Christ and read about Him in the Bible.
2. Practice - developing the skills by learning to grow as a Christian. Bible study, prayer, and fellowship are to be kept sharp continually.
3. Performance -running the race. Continuing to use your skills to develop endurance. Taking Christ with you at home, in the class room or on the mat.

Discussion:
-Describe mental preparations you make for wrestling. What thoughts help you get ready for a match? Do you ever visualize a match before you step out there?
-List one essential skill required in wrestling.
-List one essential skill required in your Christian life.
-How do you develop endurance for wrestling? How do you develop endurance for your christian life?

95% of winning is done by 5% of those who compete. One habit separates the 5% from the rest: goal setting. Most people don’t set them. No surprise there. This is common knowledge.

However, every major corporation sets goals. Every government sets goals. Every builder who builds has a blue print. Every banker has a written contract on how the borrower is going to pay back each loan. But among individuals, only the super successful even bother to set personal goals and plan their work.

Are our goals just a pipe dream? Are our goals set too high to not high enough? There is a 10 step process you can use to set you goals just right:

1.      Decide what you want.
State you goal in the present tense.
Ex. “I am a state Champion”

2.       Decide when you want it.
Ex. “March 2014”

3.       List the pay-value.
Why do you want the goal? This is the most important step. What is your PURPOSE? Is it sincere? Is it powerful enough to motivate you to reach beyond you potential?
Ex. “Through being successful in wrestling I will improve my character and become a better person. With a state championship under my belt I will be able wrestle in college, get an education, and become a productive member of society.”

4.       Determine the obstacles in your way.
What must you do to reach your goals? Habits, attitudes, etc.
Ex. I need to improve in the following areas: Strength/conditioning, technique, mental game.

5.       What is your plan to reach your goal?
The biggest difference between a wish and a goal is that a goal has a written plan. What do you have to do to overcome the obstacles in your way?
Ex. Strength – I train at The Functional Athlete 2x a week to improve in this area.
Technique – I attend every Beebe Trained practice and clinic and learn every day.
Mental Game – I attend the Champions Huddle a Beebe Trained every Sunday and I study the mental game like it is my most important class.

6.       Ask yourself: “Is the prize worth the pay?”
Yes

7.       Schedule you plan.
Gather the necessary resources, schedule your workouts, etc.

8.       Start now!
Don’t delay. Put out high quality effort, consistently over time, and you can do anything.

9.       Never reach a goal without fist setting another one.
To add to this one, I would say, don’t be afraid to alter your goal if need be, as long as the purpose of achieving that goal stays the same. For example, if your goal was to be a state place winner and you go out and beat a state champ, maybe you need to adjust you goal.

10.    Never, ever, ever, ever quit!!!!

Lastly, take all of these steps and put them together to develop a “Directive Affirmation.”

Ex. March 2014. I am a State Champion. I attend all Beebe Trained practices and train strength and conditioning 2x a week. I study the mental game like it is my most important class and attend all Champion’s Huddles. Through being successful in wrestling I will improve my character and become a better person. With a state championship under my belt I will be able wrestle in college, get an education, and become a productive member of society. I am a State Champion!

Write your Directive Affirmation on 3 note card and strategically place the card in 3 places that you know you will see them every day. When you see the card throughout the day, stop and read it to yourself. Only one of two things can happen; you will achieve your goal, or you will stop trying.

The above are excerpts from the book With Winning in Mind by Lanny Bassham – this book changed my life. It was introduced to me by a man that had a big impact on me. He is a warrior, a Marine, a Vietnam vet, and my mentor while I was at Purdue - Lou Famiano.

Get this book on Amazon – click here.