When you focus on what you want, instead of what you don't want, you begin to to see opportunities and solutions rather than obstacles and problems.

"For me, I'm focused on what I want to do. I know what I need to do to be a champion. So I'm working on it. - Usain Bolt

Just like Usain Bolt, every successful athlete, for that matter, successful person focuses on their goal and allows periphery things to stay where they are...on the periphery. Sometimes that means there is a little bit of sacrifice but instead of thinking of it as a sacrifice, you can switch your perception, and focus on what you will gain through the process of focusing on your goals.

Playing a high level hockey from the age of 15 to my late twenties I was able to acquire many skills that have been able to propel me in life...
As a team player, how I tailored my efforts really affected how I did as a person within the team and how the team did. Thinking about my role when I first came on as a 16 year old in junior hockey, I was a player that worked hard in the corners, had occasional shift and helped the core players perform at their highest ability...in the next couple of years, I became one of the core players, and I had a deeper appreciation for the support and effort that the younger players did to help me perform at the best of my ability and help the team win... by scoring goals and mentoring the younger players. Without knowing my role and focusing on it, the team and myself would not have succeeded.
Now being so focused on "making it", I would not have been able to do what I did without the unwavering support of the family and friends. What I have learned from my experience is know that focus will help you propel yourself to what you want...make sure your focus stays on the things that are the most important to you and cultivate the relationships that will help you, your family and your life you want to build.

Instead of thinking of all the things you are missing out on, be thankful for all the things you are gaining and focus on what is good in your life, business and family...And then go work on it to make it even better!

Tell yourself something often enough and it becomes a pillar of thought and propels you to succeed.

As an athlete I did this daily, hourly and even more so in the moment. When the legs were burning on the back check or when I was skating down on a breakaway I focused on my goal and repeated that i will do it, I am doing it and I did it.

It's the repetition of affirmations that leads to belief. And once that belief becomes a deep conviction, things begin to happen." - Muhammad Ali

I learnt that repetition helped me in the moment through my sports and it also helps me every day to stay on task and accomplish many things off the ice as well. You acquire great power and focus with repetition and here is why...

- by repeating things, it becomes a personal mantra

- when you repeat words their meaning may change,  becoming more like objects you can touch amd acquire

- it solidifies our thoughts into our mind, memory and mood to help us achieve it in the future

- although it solidifies our thoughts, repeating them over and over, allows you to slowly modify and chip away to help you find the exact way to think about something

- it almost becomes a chant that can propel you forward in a rhythmic, energetic way

Looking back to the days I was back checking, and today on the bike pedaling away or working on my family, by focusing on what I want...it pushes out all those thoughts of things I don't want...
So, focus on what you want and go after it!!!!

Dam rights Dreams are possible...I've learned that first hand...through sport and life ;-) ...but they don't come easy.

How do you achieve your dream?... pursue it one day at a time!

Live out your dream as Jesse Owens said at 1936 Berlin Olympics...
"We all have dreams. But in order to make dreams come into reality, it takes an awful lot of determination, dedication, self-discipline and effort.

As a child we all looked up to hero's...for me it was Steve Yzerman of the Detroit Red Wings. He embodied all the characteristics that Jesse Owens stated in his quote...and he taught me that to get something, you have to earn it.

That doesn't mean you have to do it RIGHT NOW! First, Know what you want. Second, believe you will get there...and last but not least...accept it when it is presented!

Knowing what you want may be easy for some...
Believing, really believing you will get there is harder for most...and
Accepting it when it comes is the most difficult part

But doing all 3 and really committing yourself to believing in yourself is the key.

In this blog I will reveal techniques that I acquired through playing high level sports that help me achieve my dreams and hopefully will help you achieve yours.