Dig Deeper

The US Hockey Team. 1980 Olympics. Winning the gold...against all odds...

In professional sports, there is very little separation among elite athletes relative to their skill level. What seems to separate the best from the very best, top in their field, record holders, is mental toughness. An inner strength and unrelenting drive that elevates a few to victory. Ben Hogan, Eric Heiden, Lance Armstrong, Wayne Gretszky, Tiger Woods, Babe Ruth, Jackie Robinson, Muhamed Ali, Rod Laver, Gayle Sayers, Michael Jordan, the US Hockey Team of the 1980 Olympics.... This represents a small sample of elite athletes. These are individuals that have a god given physical ability which sets them apart from their piers...but they have something else .. something more.. that delivers a victory in the toughest of circumstances.

Mental toughness...the ability to focus, evaluate and perform at the highest level, in a pressured situation, is rare and extremely valuable.

Don't you think that we put ourselves in the best position to win and prosper, as a nation, if our president is an elite thinker and a compassionate activist? Shouldn't the leader of the most powerful democracy in the world be at his peak of mental toughness vs. a leader that has only memories of mental toughness, whose best years may very well be behind him? Don't we put ourselves at risk if we allow mediocrity to enter this office?

To be fair, both Obama and McCain are mentally tough. McCain lived in a hole for 5 years. And went on to achieve notable accomplishments in his life as a civil servant. Regardless of your opinion on his governing policies, he clearly has mental toughness, perseverance and drive...but McCain is wounded and fatigued.

Obama is at the height of his physical and mental training. He is performing on all cylinders. His body is fit and his mind is sharp. He has stamina, clarity, energy and passion. He is confident in his ability, driven to succeed, sincere in his desire to serve his country and focused. Isn't this what we deserve in a leader? Aren't these the most important characteristics of an effective leader? Effective change and material progress require perspective, unwavering desire, commitment and bravery. It is easy to stay the same. It is much harder to venture into uncharted territory to deliver unprecedented victories...We are at a point in our history, again...where we need to change in order to survive. If we want to prosper at unprecedented levels, we need to be smart, strong and proud. We need mental toughness...

Consider how you align on policy with your presidential candidates, but don't let strict policy agreement cast your vote. You owe it to yourself and the well being of your family to consider the character of each of your candidates. Make a judgment on who has the mental dexterity to recognize your needs and the physical dexterity to fight for them. You will never agree with every policy decision your candidate makes once in office. But you deserve to have a president that has the mental toughness to protect our country, demand the highest level of performance, and fight for the greater good of our families. So use your heart and your mind when you vote. The combination is powerful. One without the other is powerless...