Throwback to when I was crowned 2023 Australian Podiatrist of the Year.
The most common question that I get asked is “How did winning the award make you feel?”. The truth is, not much. I don’t say that out of pride or arrogance, but rather as an honest reflection of my true emotion.
As we embark on the new year ahead, here are some important lessons that I have learnt along the way. I hope these lesson are as useful to you as they will be to me.
1. Winning is IMPORTANT, but winning is not EVERYTHING
When I was younger, there was always a sense of indestructibility. I would work 100 hour weeks, deprive myself of sleep and nutrition, and push my body and mind to its limits. But as I drift towards my mid 30s, I realise that this is going to catch up to me at some point. And so whilst I have pursued winning at ALL COST when I was younger, I now focus instead on winning at NO COST. By winning at no cost, what I am referring to is no cost to my health. Winning always requires sacrifice, and it would be naive to assume that it is possible with no input. What I focus on instead is on winning sustainably, so that I can do it for a much longer period of time.
Which leads me to:
2. See winning as a HABIT, not an EVENT
Following on from the first point, if you saw winning as an event, then it will lead to having the perspective of needing to win at all cost. But what if I told you winning can be viewed as a habit, where you can focus on the daily processes that when performed consistently can lead to a winning outcome? Not only will this take the pressure off winning, it will also give you a higher chance of successfully winning, by having built the skills required through daily discipline.
3. Winning should CONFIRM your identity, not DEFINE your identity.
If your identity is defined by your wins, then that means that it will also be defined by your loses/failures. Instead of attaching your self worth to the roller coaster that is life, it might be better to have a consistent view of your identity that is not defined by worldly success and accolades.
What have you learnt from your wins?
Curious to know in the comments below.
Specialty Territory Representative/Endo Dentsply Sirona
1moCongratulations !! Great Job!!!