I want to spend 2023 researching an expert every week and try to apply their secrets to my life.
First up - one of the greatest soccer players of all time - Cristiano Ronaldo.
Here are 3 of his secrets of success from here, here and here.
Secret #1: Professional Mentality
CR7 says: "The most important thing is your mentality. To be a professional. A professional has a strong personal work ethic and helps the team. Make sure your self-talk is always positive. He says in many interviews: "I’m a happy person and a lucky person."
This year I am going to check in with my self-talk. Whenever it is negative, bring it right back!
I will also observe how "professional" my approach is.
Secret #2: See Yourself as the Best.
He is often asked where does it come from after so long at the top?
He says he never listens to anyone's views on how good he is. You have to see yourself as the best.
He replied: "The numbers say everything."
So what are my numbers, stats, timesheets, hours, wins, and losses? Am I tracking them for real improvement or is my feeling enough?
He says "I am always motivated - I dont need others for comparison or to motivate me. But I use others for learning. It's a healthy comparison. The best study the best from all fields. I learn many things from everyone
This year I will take what I am learning and put real stats in place!
Secret #3: You Have To Work.
CR7 says that "Playing the game is easy, but it is the background preparation to repeat the training every day is the most difficult." I have been training like this since 16 years old. Now I'm 36. 20 years every day train myself well, that is difficult.
So for him, secrets dont exist, only hard work and dedication.
I must keep observing whether I am working hard enough.
He says in many interviews, "Without sacrifice, we can win nothing."
So this year, I am going to continue to ask myself, what am I sacrificing here?
Thanks for reading! Join me this year as I continue to research and apply the secrets of the experts to my work and life.