My Failure

My Failure

I decided to bring out my failures in the past week... After thinking through, I felt the my failures should help those who stumble along the same path to have an easier time and maybe even find a more successful way :)

I always thought that if someone worked hard enough, long enough, success would be just a stone's throw away...I was wrong.

This week has been quite an intense one for me... Let's start with the athlete's perspective:

I've never EVER been more prepared for a competition than I was for this year's inter-school nationals. In fact, getting a medal should have been a walk in the park. I shot the silver medal score in January and the bronze medal score just last month, so I definitely didn't expect to crash to 9th. What's worse was the score I shot. Personally, I don't think I need to train to hit that score, but there it was. Shoot gold medal scores in training and on the big day, shoot a score that the 3 years ago me would have laughed at. As i said in the previous post, no excuses. I thought through what went wrong and I'm gonna get back to training soon for next weeks National Championships. What's funny is that I don't feel so stress anymore...nothing to lose? maybe... I'm still trying to find my way :)
*Anyways, i'm sorry to all those who wished me all the best and those who were expecting more. I'm not even gonna say "better luck next year". No. Just gonna work hard quietly. Thank you for being there :) *

So that was my athlete story...what can be learnt from a failed athlete? I mean, have you seen a book in the store saying "Tales from the failed athlete?" not yet...maybe one day someone should write one. Personally, I feel there's a lot to learn from failure.

Failure point 1: Get your fundamentals right

Unknown to many, I have horrible fundamentals in shooting. Yes, I too know that I won most of my medals when I was younger. But my fundamentals are really bad. And that's what's costing me most now. Sure, now I'm rather technically skilled and I can shoot tens frequently(except when it matters most, as show in the story above). I've spent years working on correcting my fundamentals, which kids take maybe weeks to master. Why? it's hard unteaching and then teaching something. Don't believe me? Try this: your whole life, you have the habit of writing with your master hand (right hand for me). Now I tell you to start using your other hand and still get the maintain the same neatness in your writing. That's what I had to go through for the past few years. Yes, there were moments of brilliance which I'll cherish, but its the struggles that i'll never forget. The weeks and months of going through fundamental training, and still trying to be one of the best. 

But here's the big question. Why didn't I work on my fundamentals when I first started? I was young, naive. I couldn't tell the difference between good and bad techniques. I had no say.

So kids or anyone out there starting out on something new, remember this: Master the right fundamentals, because in the long run, that's what matters most  

Next, I'll talk about my week as a student:

I got back my physics test results today and for the first time in my life, I failed physics. I honestly didn't really react to it due to my nationals result. But now thinking back...gosh...I've failed twice this week already! and these are just the notable failures! What to do What to do...

Failure point 2: The past. the present, the future... 3 Different moments

Don't worry, I know what to do. Like what an Olympian once said to me: "Why are you still sad about the past? It's over, move on." It's true. I was a champion. I failed. I still can still feel like a champion. How? Work like one. Get back that mental drive that drove me to success the first time. This is what I'm going to do: Study harder for my subjects, GET HELP. Yes, there's no room for pride. When you need help, ask for it. I'll also manage my time a bit more differently. More efficiently. #resolute

This is what anyone and everyone out there facing a slump should take note of: Remember what made you great, you can do it again. YES YOU CAN.
and if you're facing failure or a setback just remember: You were something in the past. But that's just a memory. What you want to be now is what defines you. Your success in the future only can get started from the work you do in the present.

Well, that's all there is from me today! I coloured the really important sentences. Always Lifting You Higher :)

Have any failures or ideas to share? Leave me a message, DM me on twitter (@toranseth) and you can also follow me on instagram (@sethtoran). I'll follow back :)