Learning to say no and follow your dreams.

Another topic that came from the danish coach at the world rowing coaches conference was learning to say no. Saying "No" to what exactly? Saying no when people are asking you to go out for a few drinks, going to the cinema, going on holidays, etc etc. The more serious you become about rowing, the more training you have to do and the more you have to learn to say no to things.

Athletes can often feel like they're missing out on a lot, but the majority of it (the drinking, cinema, holidays, dinners etc.) gets pretty repetitive. Nothing new comes of it. Your not moving towards completing a goal. Its just what people without goals choose to do with their time, while people with goals are working towards achieving their dreams. After another night out of drinking what will you have to show for it apart from a few Facebook pictures and a sore head?

 I'm not saying don't go to the cinema and go or go out with your friends! That's really important and at the end of the day we are nothing without friends and family, but if for example you've gone out twice this week already, and by going out a third time you will be missing training or it will affect your training, then if your goal is to be a good rower and help your crew achieve its goal then maybe you should reconsider and say no. You have to sit down and decide what is at the end of the day important to you. If its going out for the third time this week then go out, if its going training and improving your strength and fitness then don't go out.

You can go through life following the crowd and never make anything special of your self or you can work towards your goals and passions and excel at them, making you feel 100 time more fulfilled than doing meaning less things just because other people are doing so - unless of course you are taking a break from all the hard work you've just been doing achieving what you want to achieve. Rest is always important!