Coasting to the finish line means you are likely to lose!

I love this time of year!

When I was a footy player and conditioner, we worked on finishing strong, at training and in the game. When we would train we would do these terrible sprints called coathangers. 175 meter timed sprints with a 30-second break. Based on how well we trained we had to do anywhere between 3 and 10 of these to finish our training. The catch was, if anyone on the team pulled up short (coasted to the finish) they added 2 more. It was horrendously hard and the new guys quickly learned that no one appreciated someone taking it easy at the end of training. This converted to game day. We played the whole 80 minutes full-on and flat out. Often overtaking teams in the last 10 minutes as they coasted toward the full-time siren.

We are 10 days away from experiencing the joys of celebrating Christmas. Spending time with family and friends, giving and receiving presents, indulging in great food, and most likely a few sherbets.

I love watching the excitement of the little kids (and the big kids) opening and playing with presents.

I love the boxing day cricket test match and the Sydney to Hobart yacht race.

I love the opportunity to ignore my emails and forget where my phone is.

I love being able to lay on the beach and read a good book from end to end and get a little sunburnt in the process.

These are all rewards for the efforts of a big year, and we all deserve them.

However, let’s enjoy these times and these moments when they arrive. Let’s not coast to the finish line. Let’s make the last 10 days count and make what comes after, our reward for finishing strong!

3 ways to win this week

1. Have a clear goal

What are the things you will be proud of when you’re sitting on the beach, that you knocked over before the break? Get those last proposals done, phone calls made, emails sent. Have the discussions, organise the meetings, keep the flow going right up till the end, so there are no consequences that shift your focus and attention when you should be enjoying time with your loved ones. Then commit to enjoying the experience, relaxing, and getting some downtime.

2. Don’t be bitter?

What will be the things that will take up your headspace and divert your attention when you should be helping the grandkids to learn how to ride a bike or the things that invade your mind as you watch Pat Cummins knock over the poms one by one. Get these things done. Set yourself free to enjoy these days. Leave nothing undone in the run-up to Christmas so you can be completely present which is the ultimate present to yourself. Don’t be a little slack now and then be guilty over Christmas.

3. How can I help?

If you’re going ok and getting stuff done, help your team get theirs done too. Help them set up for a break, that allows them to disconnect and enjoy the time to themselves. Don’t add pressure to their experience. Be clear about what needs to be finished and then ask how you can help get it done.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Thanks so much for reading ‘Winning Wednesdays” this year. I hope it has helped you find ways to WIN

I will be back on the 12th of January with a whole bunch of new ideas on how you can WIN BIG in 2022.

I hope you and your family have a wonderful Christmas and a fantastic New Year.

Rowdy “Merry Chrismas “ McLean

Play BIG!