What does it take to become a great athlete?  First, you have to start with talent, an inherent ability to play. However, just having raw talent is not good enough to be on the top 1%.  There are a lot of people with great talent in a variety of sports.  There are a host of psychological and spiritual factors that are found in the greatest of athletes across sports: baseball, football, boxing, tennis, golf, etc.  I have interviewed some of the best players in the world for my upcoming book: Inside the Game: The 12 Elements of Peak Performance.  The following are common elements shared by these great players.

The Twelve Elements for Peak Performance are:

1. Ability to Adjust

  • Greatness over time requires the ability to adapt to changing circumstances.  Mental and emotional rigidity impairs one from adjusting to new and different challenges. 

2. Belief in Oneself  (abilities and intuition)

  • The mind and heart orchestrate what the body will do.  When the mind is open to great possibilities, then greatness can follow.  Our ultimate capacity is often tested and we must maintain a positive belief in our capacity and trust ourselves to achieve victory. 

3. Capacity to Individuate (a Jungian concept)

  • Peak Performers are on the cutting edge.  They are leading the way, not following.  Great success requires the psychological maturity to rise above societal and cultural pressures to conform and remain subservient to authority figures. 

4. Positive Mind Set

  • Energy follows thought.  The body cannot achieve what the mind conceives to be impossible!  The ability to maintain a positive mental outlook is essential for success. 

5. Drive

  • Greatness cannot be achieved and sustained without a strong drive for success.  It takes drive to maintain a strong work ethic to achieve lasting success. 

6. Perseverance: the ability to be mentally tough and overcome adversity.

  • Success typically does not come easily.  We are often tested and must overcome adversity to win.  Great athletes never give up!  Peak performance requires an inner strength, a mental toughness to overcome adversity. 

7. Coachability

  • Great players learn from others and learn from their mistakes.  Those who think they know everything or think they can succeed without the benefit of coaching are limiting their potential success. 

8. Focus

  • The ability to focus one’s mind and energy is essential in Peak Performance. 

9. Spiritual Awareness

  • World-class athletes report a strong connection to a Higher Power (God) and feel that presence as a tangible force in their lives. 

10. Responsibility 

  • Great players take responsibility for their performance and outcomes. They work hard for success and do not blame others for their mistakes. 

11. Heart

  • A passion and desire for greatness!  One has to really love what he/she is doing. 

 12. Intelligence

  • Along with great physical talent, peak performers bring a high level of intelligence to their sport.


This is the first posting for this blog on Peak Performance.  I will discuss each element in future blogs.  In the meantime, you can listen to a complete interview with Doug DeCinces.  This is a great story and you will learn a lot.  Doug broke into major league baseball with the Baltimore Orioles and took over third base from Brooks Robinson.  Listening to the challenges he faced and how he overcame them, will change your life!

Keep in touch,

Ronn Mann, Ph.D.  

Dr. Mann Videomercial

@2008 Copyright Ron Mann, Ph.D.  All Rights Reserved.