As most of you will know I do CrossFit and it’s a huge part of my life. I was at a local competition last weekend supporting my friends and some family members and I was so inspired by the courage and strength of all the competitors. Although I am watching on the day, I can also see the hard work behind the scenes to get to this point. The top athletes weren’t born an expert in their field, right?

People are rewarded in public for what they practice in private.

What does that mean?

This is another straight forward observation of human life. When people get rewarded in public, it is rarely for something they did the very first time.

In other words, the saying highlights the idea that success is not just a stroke of luck or coincidence but is usually the outcome of consistent effort, perseverance, and disciplined practice that happens privately, where there are no spectators or immediate rewards.

For instance, consider an athlete who wins a gold medal in a sporting event. The public sees the glory and accolades of the victory, but what they don't see are the countless hours of training, sacrifices, and self-discipline that the athlete invested in private to reach that level of excellence.

Similarly, in the professional realm, a successful entrepreneur might appear to have achieved overnight success, but in reality, they might have spent years working on their ideas, networking, and honing their skills before their breakthrough.

Not everyone is in it for the recognition or a public reward. Some even turn the opportunity down. But does that mean we should avoid practicing and getting better at something if we aren’t a glory seeker or publicity hound? Absolutely not.

People may want to improve at something even without public recognition for many reasons;

• Personal fulfillment and satisfaction.
• Intrinsic interest and passion for the activity.
• The pursuit of mastery and expertise.
• Overcoming challenges and pushing personal limits.
• Contribution to others or communities.
• Positive impact on mental and physical well-being.

Those who are driven to be recognised tend to use that drive for motivation, and that also works.

We all have different reasons. But the more emotion we have in that reason, the greater the motivation, the harder and more often we will practice.

Maybe you’re like me, very invested in personal development, maybe you have a particular sport you enjoy, maybe you have a side-line business?

What do you enjoy practicing, and more importantly, why do you do it?

Remember, when you compare yourself to someone's highlight reel on social media for example, you are viewing the carefully curated and selective moments of their life or achievements. These are typically the best, most glamorous, and successful aspects that they choose to share with the public.

However, what you don't see is the hard work, struggles, failures, and effort that went into achieving those moments of success.

Here are three clear steps to achieving personal progression in any area of life;

STEP 1 - SET CLEAR AND SPECIFIC GOALS

• Define your objectives with clarity and specificity.
• Use the SMART criteria (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound).
• Focus on the particular area of life you want to improve (e.g., career, fitness, relationships).

Example: "I want to lose 10 pounds in the next three months by exercising three times a week and following a balanced diet."

STEP 2 - CREATE A PERSONALISED ACTION PLAN

• Break down larger goals into smaller, manageable steps or milestones
• Identify the resources, skills, and knowledge needed for success.
• Seek advice from mentors or experts to fine-tune your plan.
• Design a well-structured roadmap to follow.

Example: Divide the weight loss goal into weekly targets, plan exercise routines, and research healthy eating options.

STEP 3 - CONSISTENTLY MONITOR AND ADJUST

• Regularly track your progress towards your goals. (Use a printed tracker!)
• Assess if you're on track or need to make adjustments.
• Reflect on achievements and challenges to learn from both.
• Celebrate successes, no matter how small, to stay motivated.
• Identify setbacks and adapt your approach accordingly.
• Be open to refining goals and action plans based on new insights and experiences.

Example: Track weight loss weekly, analyse exercise effectiveness, adjust diet as needed, and stay open to trying new strategies.

Remember, personal progression is a continuous journey. By following these clear steps, you'll have a better chance of achieving your desired growth and improvement in any area of life you choose to focus on.

“Personal progression is the belief that you are worth the effort, time and energy needed to develop yourself”

I hope this provides you with some inspiration today !

Have a great week !