How To Get The “It” –Even If You’re Not Peyton Manning

7 Ways to Get More “IT” 

-At Work, in the gym, and on the playing field-

The “it” factor.  This ever-elusive descriptor has always baffled me.  A term used by musicians, coaches, trainers, and fans.  But what does it mean?  I think too many of us see the “it” factor as some sort of esoteric trait set aside for the few super-talented aliens that we see on TV.  We believe “it-factor” is innate, so from a self-improvement standpoint, the idea of improving your “it” seems impossible.  Like, “that’s some Peyton Manning-type stuff.”  Don’t buy into this.  Here are 7 achievable transformations that will have your employers, coaches, and trainers notice more “it” in you.

1)  Stop Complaining-  Complainers reek of weakness.  This is something you can control.    Here is something to try–  For one week, see if you can go a full 24 hours without making  one single complaint.  Notice how the energy around you changes, and the way others respond to you.  No seriously, this will change your life.  You can even trick your brain out of stuff like headaches and tough workouts if you conquer your complaints, first.

2)  Become a Savage-  Make it a point to put yourselves into situations that make you uncomfortable.  Do what everyone else hates doing, and become mentally tougher than those around you.  It can be as simple as parking your car in the most distant parking stall, or seeing how fast you can get out of bed the first time your alarm goes off.

3)  Sleep Tight-  As a psychologist, I am certain that sleep is the ultimate wild card.  Make sleep a priority and watch your life change.  Focus on 7-8 hours each night.  It’s the ultimate energy drink.

4)  Be More Coach-able-  Coachability IS NOT a static trait.  It bothers me when leaders make this assumption.  If you want to become more coach-able, be more humble.  When your being instructed:

• Maintain eye contact
• Listen, confirm what you heard, ask questions
• Show an interest

5)  Understand Confidence-  One of the biggest misconceptions we have about confidence is that it you can turn it on at a moment’s notice.  It is IMPOSSIBLE to simply “be” more confident.  Coaches make this assumption especially often.  In order to become more confident, you need to make something happen and experience success.  Confidence is a reward, not a magical light-switch that you can flip on and off.

6)  Show Some Guts-  Take risks, fail, and show those around you that you can handle it.  So much of the way people perceive you is determined by how you react to failure or defeat.  When we maintain our composure it shows that we are strong.  When we live our lives on impulse, and constantly react to negativity, our competitors know that they can eat us alive (Tiger Woods right now).

7)  Reflect Every Morning-  Spending 20 minutes each morning reflecting on your day is an extremely powerful habit.  Don’t wait until 2:30 in the afternoon to define the purpose of your day.  Here are 4 questions you should ask yourself every morning:

• What can I realistically accomplish today?
• What will be my distractions today, and how can I avoid them?
• What are TWO risks that I can take today?
• What rewards are out there for me today?