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Finally there was the playoff of a long-standing rivalry between Marta Vieira da Silva on the Brazilian team and Hope Solo from the U.S. Marta, touted as the world’s best football player, has earned her title with a long list of accomplishments to her name. The one obstacle standing between Marta and the 2011 World Cup Championship is Solo, an outstanding goaltender.

Most players fear Marta because of her skill on the field. Solo, however, is the exception to the rule. Her ability to defend the goal drives a wedge of doubt into the mind of her opposition. Although they are on opposite teams, both are driven to win when they play soccer.

So what causes them to excel, rising to the top in their game?

1. Highly focused energy. Both women are extremely specific about their goal, applying laser focused energy toward a desired outcome. Instead of seeing obstacles, they are looking for opportunities. Both women possess a strong faith of what is possible. Concentrated effort combined with a strong desire is powerful. Think of this formula: intensity of desire + clarity of goal + concentrated energy = success.

2. Winning frame of mind. Losing is not an option for Marta or Solo. They are fully conscious of their abilities. A steadfast belief of what is possible along with the skill to play their position sets them up for success. Instead of waiting for a chance to perform well, they create the opportunity to play full-out. Each and every moment on the field is devoted to winning. A champion mindset is proactive, seeing opportunities to excel in all situations. Bottom line, every thought and action is dedicated to winning.

3. The upside to a struggle. All athletes face adversity along the way. Rising up to a challenge and overcoming those obstacles builds strength and confidence. Facing obstacles head on, moving forward regardless of the hurdles ahead and then coming through on the other side is empowering. Solo and Marta are stronger athletes because of the obstacles faced along the way; not in spite of them.

A struggle possesses the power to create movement of one sort or another. An athlete’s commitment to her vision is tested when faced with seemingly impossible challenges. If it were easy, then all athletes would be champions.

All-star athletes approach obstacles with a different perspective. It is as if they are wearing a different set of lenses than all the rest. Their choices set them up to view the struggle as a challenge to overcome instead of an impossible obstacle blocking their progress.

Developing a champion mindset requires stepping up to the challenge. Marta and Solo were ready to go head on, sharing the same goal. Only one team won. Once the game was over, both women began preparing for the next challenge ahead.

Activity: When faced with unforeseen challenges, what is your first response? Do you walk away, take time to figure out a game plan or continue taking action while making adjustments along the way? Hesitation affects how quickly you rise up in rankings. Successful athletes recognize the power of the moment. Discover where you stop yourself. What would you need to change in order to take decisive action steps? Give it a try and notice the difference.

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