I’ve told this story before, but a couple years ago I went to watch one of my athletes compete in the state track and field championships.  Aziza was running the 800M as a junior and hoping to win her first title.

My daughter and I went to talk with her and wish her luck before her race.  She was holding fort at the baseball stadium next to the track stadium.  When I entered the stadium, I saw her down on the baseball field doing the exact same warmup that she does at our facility.  The exact warmup that I taught her.

She wasn’t just going through the motions either.  She was doing each drill to perfection and doing them for the purpose of actually warming up.  She was paying attention to all the little things and in this case doing her warmup exactly the way she was taught.

This is one of the big differences with people who want to be good and people who want to be GREAT.  They pay attention to the little things.

It isn’t enough going through a workout.  There are a lot of little things to that workout.  Doing those things could be the difference between doing just a workout or doing an effective workout.  From my experience the great ones pay attention to those little things.

What are those little things?  I’ve talked about it before, but let’s list some examples.

  • Not doing the entire warmup or rushing through it.
  • Conveniently skipping certain exercises for one reason or another.
  • Showing up late to anything – practice, game, school, etc.
  • Always picking the easiest workout opportunities such as having a rep range of 8-10 and you consistently pick the lower reps to do.
  • Not finishing drills to 100% completion. Meaning, you always slow down before the drills finishing mark.
  • You do every drill of a workout, but you break speed records to do it. Are you efficient or not pushing yourself to your fullest extent in each drill?
  • If you aren’t being watched, you won’t put forth 100% effort all the time.
  • When you take a rest break, it is truly a rest break that lasts longer than it should.
  • Usually, the great ones are very meticulous about anything that they consider a “little thing.” They only know one way and that is full out.  They are coachable and willing to learn.  And usually, you have to order them to stop their workout and tell them they are done for the day.

There are probably a lot of other examples that I can give, but let me fast forward with Aziza.  Aziza is now a freshman at OSU running track.  I watched her this past weekend at an indoor meet.  She spent more than 20 minutes warming up and continuing to stay loose before her race.

She then went out and won the race.  She has now run the 4th fastest time in OSU history for the 800M indoor.  She then did her proper cooldown as well.  I talked with her strength coach and she said everything I already knew about her.  Always working hard, great kid, eager to learn, etc.

Yes, she has some talent, but it is her attention to detail that takes her to this higher level.  If you wonder why you have NOT entered that higher level yet, then you probably aren’t doing the little things.  And if you were honest with yourself, you probably know that already.

If you want greatness in your sport, or life in general.  You need to pay attention to the little things.  Sometimes it isn’t easy.  Yes, you will have to put in some extra effort and work, but in the end it will be worth it.

If you aren’t willing to do that.  If you can’t do it on a regular basis, then I hope you are prepared for not achieving what you desire.  In my experience, it just won’t happen whatever your lofty aspirations are.

In the comments below, please list out some more of the little things that you think are necessary to be great.