3 Requirements For Greatness 

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Here’s 3 Requirements For Greatness.

Blades Brown, 16, is one of the top amateur golfers in the world. He played in his PGA Tour debut, made the cut and finished 26th at the Inaugural Myrtle Beach Classic. He finished runner-up in the USGA four-ball, and he broke Bobby Jones scoring record at the U.S. Amateur.

Spending the week with Blades Brown and his team as a mental coach, here are three observations about what makes one great.

Greatness Tip: MAKE it Look Easy… 

What do they say about greatness? 

They make it look easy! 

Tips to greatness begins with embracing and welcoming the moment. The best shine brighter when the lights are on! That is how everyone can achieve greatness. However, what people don’t see however is the work and practice and play that is conducted when the lights are off. There are very few who reach top levels of success without putting in the effort, hard work, and extreme sacrifice. However, they do work smarter and more efficient as well. This is the way to greatness. Hence, the adage is true “success is not owned, it is leased, and rent is due everyday.” 

And most people frankly underestimate the effort and requirements for greatness to emerge. 

People will witness the putts and shots that Blades Brown successfully made during his PGA Tour debut, but they didn’t see the hours of chipping and putting that he did until it was dark outside. That is a simply one of the requirements for greatness. 

Greatness Tip: Build A Winning Team 

What is a fact about greatness? 

The greatest build a winning team around them. NO ONE Gets There ALONE. Parke Brown and Rhonda Brown are his parents and are both outstanding people! They instilled in both of their children about the importance of doing the details along the journey. Mastering the simple is one of the requirements for greatness.  

Building a winning team also means that you must surround themselves with competition, because that is how each of us improves. For instance, Michael Phelps used to get beat regularly during practice in the pool. But, he knew it was needed for his path of greatness. 

Greatness Tip: It’s Not A Linear Path…

How do you explain greatness? 

Greatness points toward the path of hinge moments. 

One moment, person, event, or decision that connects who we are with who we become. There are setbacks, roadblocks, and barriers that will make us stumble. It may even makes us question in our own lives, “Will this happen?”   

Your own important moment is coming, but you’ll have to be ready! That’s how you’ll achieve greatness. This is also a requirement for greatness in any field of life.  Overall, this PGA Tour debut was a hinge moment, but there were hinge moments even inside of the play and tournament itself.

One of Blades Brown hinge moments in the Myrtle Beach Classic was on Friday, when he shot -4 to make the cut.  He was -2 at the time and he chipped in to save par with four holes remaining in the round, which kept the momentum going. It was also his 2nd chip-in for the the week. Hey, the short game in golf matters!!

Greatness does not keep going up, up, and up. There are many plateaus, mountain tops, and even false summits.

The key is to stay positive, focus, and capture those hinge moments.

When our moment hits, it’s too late to prepare, we need to be ready. Lastly, greatness comes in many forms and fashions and it takes patience.

There is NOT one personality type of greatness, nor mold.  There are many paths and these three requirements for greatness ring true. 

requirements for greatness

Dr. Rob Bell is a Sport Psychology Coach. DRB & associates coach executives and professional athletes. Some clients have included three different winners on the PGA Tour, Indy Eleven, University of Notre Dame, Marriott, and Walgreens.