Blog #9: The Making of a Champion

As an Ivy League student, I've had the privilege of studying the qualities and mindsets that define true champions. Through my research and observations, I've come to the conclusion that champions can be both born and made - a unique blend of natural talent and learned skills.

On one hand, some individuals do seem to possess an innate, almost preternatural ability in certain domains. They exhibit physical attributes, mental acuity, or what is often described as "a natural gift" that gives them an advantage from the start. This could manifest as superior hand-eye coordination, an eidetic memory, lightning-fast reflexes, or an uncanny intuition for their craft.

The biblical story of David and Goliath provides a perfect illustration of this. Goliath, the giant, was undoubtedly a natural champion - his immense size, strength, and combat experience made him a formidable warrior. He embodied the very picture of a born champion.

However, the young shepherd boy David, armed with only a sling and stones, emerged victorious in their famed confrontation. What David lacked in natural talent, he made up for with his champion's mindset - the unwavering determination, trust in God, unshakeable self-belief, and relentless pursuit of victory.

These natural-born talents provide champions with a strong foundation and often a head start compared to their peers. Their raw abilities allow them to pick up new skills and techniques more quickly and excel at a level that others struggle to match. In many ways, these innate advantages make the path to championship more accessible.

Yet, as exemplified by David's triumph, natural talent alone is rarely enough to become a true champion. Even the most gifted individuals require years of intensive training, practice, and experience to fully harness their abilities and achieve mastery. The most successful champions supplement their inborn talents with a relentless work ethic, a willingness to learn, and an insatiable drive to continuously improve.

In this sense, champions are also very much "made" through their own efforts. The champion's mindset - the unbreakable determination, the ability to overcome setbacks, the laser-like focus - is something that is cultivated and developed over time. It requires immense mental toughness and discipline to push one's limits day-in and day-out.

The truly great champions possess this unique blend of natural gifts and learned skills. Their success is the product of both the talents they were born with and the champions' mindset they have carefully constructed through years of hard work and dedication. It is this powerful combination that sets the greatest apart from the rest.

I am incredibly grateful to have had the support and guidance of my parents in developing this champion's mindset. From a young age, they instilled in me and my siblings the values of perseverance, self-belief, and a relentless pursuit of excellence. They pushed us to challenge our limits, to never settle for anything less than our best, and to use setbacks as opportunities for growth.

This unwavering parental support and encouragement was instrumental in shaping the champions we have become. Through their wisdom and example, my parents showed us that true success is not just about innate talent but about the strength of one's character and the willingness to put in the hard work. Their belief in us, even when we doubted ourselves, gave us the confidence to reach for the impossible.

Champions refuse to be defined by their mistakes or doubters. They use setbacks as fuel, as opportunities to prove their critics wrong and emerge stronger than before. This unwavering self-belief, combined with relentless hard work, is the formula that sets champions apart