Every story requires a hero—a champion who is willing to beat all odds along the journey to achieve their unique brand of greatness. To be a champion, you simply need to evolve into the finest version of yourself that you are capable of being.
A champion is someone who goes above and beyond to accomplish their objectives and be the best version of themselves. Not all champions sport gold medals or championship belts. The most crucial characteristic of a champion is that they get back up after failing or being knocked down and immediately resume their task.
How to be a champion: 5 practices to implement in your routine
The most crucial characteristic of a champion is that they get back up after failing or being knocked down and immediately resume their task.
Here are five habits that can enable you to become the best version of yourself:
- Practice empathy
Empathy is a crucial skill in life and in business, as it helps us listen and respond differently to people’s stories. It’s our ability to show vulnerability that creates a real sense of connectedness. Understanding that we really are all connected is the essence of what it means to be a champion.
We may hear someone’s story and find ourselves in it. But when we listen to someone day after day, we get to understand different facets of their personality. This is the beautiful process of being connected and sharing the human experience.
2 . Being Authentic
In order to connect with others, you need to be authentic. What does it look like to show up exactly as you are? Being authentic is not just about being yourself. It’s also about living your purpose, even when you don’t feel like it. Do you continue to serve even when you don’t have the desire to serve? Sometimes we have to push through regardless of how we feel at the moment.
- Connect, collaborate, and network
You can’t build an empire by acting like a vampire. As business owners and entrepreneurs, we need to be honest about how we feel and be open to vulnerability. Connect and collaborate with your peers and potential customers. If you’re going to be a true change-maker in your industry or in your community, you need to be open and let people have access to you.
- Be rooted in your values
Your core values are there to guide you during tough times. We need to make sure our actions are rooted in our values so that the drive for success doesn’t lead us astray. There might be some aspects of your behavior that are not serving your purpose. As we go through the rest of the year, ask yourself, which aspects of my attitude have not served me and the people around me?
- Be self-aware
When we listen to other people’s stories, we become more self-aware. Self-realization is the key to growth. So listen, sit down, and reflect on what you have heard. We have to course-correct ourselves from time to time so we don’t end up crashing.
Takeaway: How to be a champion
We are all imperfectly perfect. We need to establish boundaries in our relationships not only with others but also with ourselves. Everybody’s line of defense is different, but if you have self-awareness, you’ll know how to protect yourself best. So, as you walk toward the end of this year, take the time to check how you feel, reflect on what you have learned, and see what adjustments you can make for 2023.
Being authentic is about staying true to yourself but also to your purpose. Don’t shy away from being vulnerable. Vulnerability is what establishes strong connections between people. Take time to connect with the people around you. You can’t build a flourishing business in isolation.
