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Who comes to mind when you think of the great players in professional football or basketball? Names like Michael Jordan, John Elway, Roger Staubach and Kobe Bryant come to my mind because of one trait they all have in common.
Sure, they’re great players throughout the game, but where they really shine is in the last few minutes of play. They’re the closers and finishers. Anyone can start anything, but not everyone can finish strong. Who I want on my team and who I want to be is a finisher.
Near the end when everyone’s tired, it’s easy to make excuses. But crunch time is exactly when it’s important to give your very best.
This starts in the practice pen where you need to always finish your practices strong. Never say quit, never say die and let yourself know you are not quitting on yourself no matter what the circumstances.
As this becomes a habit, you will start to change. You’ll be more confident and discover it’s easier to come through in the clutch. Everyone wants to be in those situations, but what’s more important is to thrive in those situations.
How do you handle it when your back is against the wall and you need to be seven or eight seconds? Maybe you don’t have a chance to win much, or anything at all, but you should always finish as strong as you possibly can.
Make this a habit and watch it change your competition. Always demand the best from yourself, especially at the end.
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