Author Steven Pressfield has written much about the forces at war against an individual's quest for success. He terms these insidious, unavoidable forces "resistance," and classifies them collectively as anything, internal or external, that clashes or interferes with or stands in the path of our innate drive to succeed. His recent book Do The Work warns that one type of resistance is well-meaning friends and family.

Pressfield states that the problem with friends and family is that they see you as you are, rather than imagining you at your best. Too often, friends and family settle for the status quo because they are comfortable with and accustomed to that viewpoint. And if you bust out of that mold, it forces them to re-evaluate their world order and, often, they see themselves as lacking. Therefore, they try to get you to settle for the same old, same old: mediocrity.

This is unacceptable to a man destined for greatness. Inside each of us, there is an unborn presence, a greater and more capable side of us just waiting to be unleashed upon the world. A true man of greatness senses this capacity in himself, and others - instead of grasping at a reality "the same as it ever was," he takes destiny by the throat and pulls himself, his friends, and his family toward a reality "as great as it ever will be." Don't settle for less; demand more from yourself, your friends, and your family.

A classic and great poem is Odyssey , by the Greek sage Homer. This poem, and its companion Illiad, remain 2 of the most revered and influential works of literature some 1300 years after their creation. Odyssey relates the heroic tale of the titular Ulysses, as he was known in Roman myth, or Odysseus, as the Greeks called him. The poem tracks our hero on his journey home following the Trojan War. The journey takes 10 arduous and trying years. Odysseus' ordeals include the consequences of squandering precious gifts, and harsh punishments from ignoring commands and well wishes both. Odysseus spends 7 years as a captive on a remote island, among many other tribulations caused by his excessive pride. He ultimately prevails and returns home only to face further challenges which he survives with the help of his loyal family and supporters, and his cunning intelligence.  The word odyssey derives from his tale, and means "an extended and adventurous journey; an intellectual or spiritual quest."

Odyssey describes the opportunity of your lifetime. Do you want a drab, dull, predictable existence that is never even known, least of all forgotten? Or, do you choose to live a magnificent life of ordeals and triumphs, soaring victories and agonizing defeats, featuring the finest of your traits and offering plentiful chances to learn from your mistakes? The latter is the preferred path of the champion who, like Odysseus, will be forever immortalized in the written and oral history of man. Do you want to be ordinary, or do you want to be great? Choose the path of the odyssey, and maybe your name will likewise live forever.

A young man asked a successful athlete, "What's your best advice for someone like me who wants to duplicate your achievements?"

The athlete said, "Never ask anyone else for advice. You have to figure out what is necessary, on your own."

The young man paused, then said, "Okay, but what would you recommend I do to be just like you?"

The athlete said, "Stop asking questions. Go; do. Live; learn." He walked away.

The young man was puzzled, and taken aback by the abrupt departure. He yelled a final plea. "But you never told me what to do!"

The departing athlete heard, and smiled. "That is my answer," he thought.

A successful track and field coach known for developing outstanding athletes was asked how he trained his team. Certainly he owed his success to some super-secret and unique training regimen, right? Probably he espoused a certain diet and a complex array of spectacular cutting-edge supplements, yes? Without question his success was dependent on a fancy, elaborate, exclusive and expensive training facility with state-of-the-art accommodations, correct? 

No, in every case. The grizzled coach attributes his success to 4 tenets, none of which involves fancy-pants exercises, new-wave diets or posh digs. Each of the 4 seems unrelated to athletic accomplishment, but the possessor of numerous titles, awards, records and victories insists that they are accurate, reliable predictors of success on the track, in the classroom, and in life.

He answers in his typical gruff, no-nonsense way. "I require that every athlete on my team do 4 things, each day, in order to wear the uniform. If they do these 4 things on and off the track, I know they will triumph wherever they are in life. It's a given, as my record proves." 

1. Floss their teeth twice per day. "If they can't take the time to floss, they won't take the time to get in shape and compete at their highest level. If they don't care enough to floss, they won't make the effort to be their best."

2. Make eye contact while they listen. "If they don't pay attention, they won't learn. And if they won't pay attention, they aren't worth my time."

3.  Learn, and use, the names of all their teammates. "If they don't know, they can't care. If they don't care, they don't belong. Everyone is an individual, and an indispensable part of the team."

4. Use the phrases "yes, sir" and "no, sir" or "yes, ma'am" and "no ma'am." "Words mean specific things, and these words convey respect and caring and attention to detail. Anything less is unacceptable."

There is wisdom in his words, for everything in life is connected. Display appropriate behavior in a single area of your life and its influence permeates every aspect of your life. Make these 4 rules pillars of your behavior, and you'll be a great success.

A great athlete never wishes for ease or comfort or an unchallenged triumph. Rather, a great athlete exists for impossible odds and overwhelming obstacles and formidable opponents. A great athlete craves the best competition and the highest stakes played on the biggest stage. A great athlete rises to the challenge, secure in the knowledge that his best is sufficient, whether that is reflected on the scoreboard (the most likely scenario) or not (an unlikely occurrence although upsets happen).

This is a corollary to the words within the "Problem-Solving" post and is a similar call for reliance on self. A particular young athlete often felt cowed and daunted by the so-called 'impressive' traits and characteristics of his teammates. They were "ripped." They were "huge." They were "towering giants." They were "intimidating." They were "better" and "more deserving of playing time." They were superior, in his mind. And these thoughts and beliefs arose before the first practice!

Lo and behold, when the young athlete who lacked in self-confidence hit the playing field, many of the impressive-looking teammates proved the adage 'look like Tarzan, play like Jane.' Most of his jitters and fears and expectations proved false, once the game started. In spite of their looks and prowess, many of the teammates who aced the 'look' test failed the 'compete' test. 

It is {learned} human nature to doubt one's worth and believe that others are stronger, faster, bigger, better, smarter and more qualified. A champion prepares himself to compete, and trusts in his preparation, regardless of appearances. A champion knows that, in order for a coach or a teammate to believe in him, he must first believe in himself. Belief in self is a bedrock foundation of success and is never arrogant or without class. Too much confidence is better than too little. It is necessary, proper and fitting in the make-up of a winner. Be a winner, be your best, be yourself.

It is tempting for many a young athlete to rely on their coaches and/or their parents for the answers and solutions to all their challenges and problems. The young athlete is, by definition, young and inexperienced and unqualified by comparison, right? Wrong! Never let youth stand in the way of self-reliance and the willingness to solve a problem or overcome a challenge.