The Fuel To Reach Your Dreams

"You grow by taking chances, and you reach your dreams by taking them, too. In a sense, risks provide the fuel needed to get on the road to, as Michael put it, wherever you want to go."

-- Bob Bowman

Keep Your Interest Kindled

"Passion for a particular pursuit is critical, but, as with anything we love, we need to find ways to keep our interest kindled. Having such triggers will allow you to pursue excellence even on the days when you don’t feel so excellent."

-- Bob Bowman

Look At Challenges as Opportunities

"I have never met anyone who has achieved something by being static. You must be dynamic, and you must look at challenges as opportunities that will further engage you. By taking on challenges and meeting them, you’re moving toward your ultimate destination. And when you get there it will mean that you deserve it. Got it?”"

-- Bob Bowman

The Only Disability in Life

"‘The only disability in life is a negative attitude.’” She stopped for a second, and smiled. “I really believe that,” she added, “especially with not having my legs.”"

-- Bob Bowman

One Critical Ingredient To Be A High Level Achiever

"In the pursuit of your goals and your dream vision, one critical ingredient you’ll need is passion—that intense interest or affection that starts to develop once you hit upon something you’re drawn to. Passion often separates the high-level achievers from the mere dreamers."

-- Bob Bowman

You Must Do Everything in Your Power

 "Listen, you can’t just hope that a gold medal, a good grade, or a promotion is waiting for you at the end of a cycle. You must do everything in your power—in your Game Plan—to make sure you deserve that reward."

-- Bob Bowman

Never Attempt to Pursue Success Alone

 "I don’t think anybody achieves anything as an individual. You’re always going to need support from someone else. Whatever you pursue, you don’t want to attempt to go it alone."

-- Bob Bowman

Worry Only About What You Need To Do

 "You dictate how hard you work on a project, when you will study for an exam, how dedicated you’ll be to a diet. You don’t worry about how much others are training or how much studying a fellow classmate is doing; you worry about you, your effort, and what you need to do in order to achieve your vision."

-- Bob Bowman

The Mindset To Move On is Very Important

 "What I tell my athletes is this: “Don’t be so hard on yourselves. If a practice—or even a race—doesn’t go right, move on.  Let it go.”"

-- Bob Bowman

When You Hit Against a Wall in Pursuing a Long-Term Dream

 "Anyone pursuing a long-term dream will eventually hit a wall. The chase is long and it can eat you up. When that happens, you must look for help from the “like-minded.” People who can appreciate the challenges you’re enduring."

-- Bob Bowman

Take Something From Failure

"Failure is part of the Method. Sometimes it comes in waves; sometimes it catches you by surprise. But whenever it hits, understand that it is part of your pursuit. Take something from failure and use it to move your vision along."

-- Bob Bowman

Expect Stuff to Happen Differently

"Expect stuff to happen. That way, you’ll be ready to react to it—with a new Game Plan, a new set of short-term goals, and a renewed effort to get you to where you ultimately want to go."

-- Bob Bowman

Eliminate Irrelevant Noise To Your Job

"Think like a great swimmer: Aim for a quality effort by focusing on the job, what’s relevant to doing your job, and eliminating the noise that is irrelevant to the job. Remove the chaos.”"

-- Bob Bowman

Each Day Put in A Little Extra Effort

"I tell my swimmers that each time they put in a little extra effort during practice they’re making a deposit in their vision account. That account works like a savings account: The more you put in, the more your talent or skill will grow."

-- Bob Bowman

When You Are Face with Pressure Situation

"When you face a pressure situation, stay true to yourself and your plan. Remain in the present and do what you have worked weeks and months to perfect. If you follow this prescription, the desired results should come."

-- Bob Bowman

Push Beyond Old Marks and On To New Ones

"More important, it reminds him that to push forward in life—whether in pursuit of a record-setting time or in search of a new career path—he needs to push beyond old marks and on to new ones. And when he does, and when he has achieved success, he will have earned it. He will deserve it."

-- Bob Bowman

Let The Wisdom You Gained Guide You

"My advice to you is this: Keep moving forward, like a swimmer with practiced strokes, and let the wisdom you’ve gained over time guide you. Your destination may be closer than you think."

-- Bob Bowman

My Point of Success

"My point is this: Success in any endeavor is often dictated by how much quality time and effort you put into it."

-- Bob Bowman

Building Up Your Risk Tolerance

"To my mind, the magnitude of an achievement will be limited by your aversion to risk. Building up your risk tolerance is like building up your fitness. You have to start small, and you have to go through some pain, but once you get the feel for risk’s ebbs and flows, its highs and lows, you learn to appreciate it."

-- Bob Bowman

Where Start and Success Shrink

"Work, time, and luck come with achieving a goal. Just know that if you pursue your goal with a steady drumbeat, the length between start and success will continually shrink."

-- Bob Bowman