“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, therefore, is not an action but a habit.”

Shawn Johnson is a winner once more.

A gold medalist in Olympic gymnastics in 2008, Johnson last night captured the “Dancing With the Stars” championship.

Some people may chalk up these two titles to some natural coordination and agility. That’s a discussion for another day.

For now, let’s focus on Shawn’s mental game. She is a person who at one point in her life decided that she wanted to be the best in the world at her sport.

And this decision is the key to her success on “Dancing With the Stars.”

Once a person makes a decision to be the best at ANYTHING, then everything changes. The work habits must be better than anyone else’s. There must be focus, consistency, perseverance.

As the saying goes, “We are what we do repeatedly. Excellence, therefore, is
not an action, but a habit.”

Shawn Johnson lives a life of excellence. That is why she is likely to be successful no matter what she undertakes. Before she begins any endeavor, she knows that she must work hard, be coachable, follow through, avoid cutting corners.

This approach will serve her well whether she goes to college, goes into business, or whatever.

The more that coaches and athletes understand that their success depends more on their way of life than on their physical ability, the more they will achieve.