What Makes Lionel Messi So Successful?
What Makes Lionel Messi So Great?
By Mark Wager
Every generation has that one special footballer who out of the millions of footballers around the world, stands out as something special. For this generation, the greatest player in the world is Lionel Messi. Currently playing for F.C. Barcelona in Spain and as Captain for the Argentinian national side, Lionel Messi has won the FIFA Ballon d'Or four consecutive years and is the only player to do so. Whenever we find excellence we can find lessons that can be useful in our own lives, so let's explore the excellence that is Lionel Messi.
"The only thing that matters is playing. I have enjoyed it since I was a little boy and still I try to do that every time I go out on the pitch. I always say when I no longer enjoy it or it's no longer fun to do it, them I won't do it anymore. I do it because I love it and that's all I care about."
When I coach people in business, I see a lot of people who have chosen assignments or even careers based on practical reasons such as money but it's rarely for enjoyment and it's in this decision that many mistakes occur. If you want to succeed at a high level you will have to work harder than you imagined and overcome obstacles that will stop many people. The chances of doing this increase dramatically if what you are doing gives you joy. The best advice I've ever heard was to find what makes you happy and find a way to make a career out of it.
"I want to concentrate on winning things with Barcelona and Argentina. Then if people want to say nice things about me when I have retired, great. Right now I need to concentrate on being part of a team - not just on me" - Lionel Messi
With success comes adulation which in itself can lead you to have a false impression of your strengths and more concerning your weaknesses. I see this a lot when I coach leaders. They start believing the perception that people have of them and stop listening to advice that they would have cared about until that stage. A little success can be a dangerous thing for the ego. What Lionel Messi does is that he never seems to let success get to him and appears to remain humble in circumstances that the majority of people can not imagine.
"You have to fight to reach your dream. You have to sacrifice and work hard for it." - Lionel Messi
Just being talented isn't enough. You have to possess the will and determination to overcome any obstacle that comes your way. At the age of eleven, Lionel Messi was diagnosed with growth hormone deficiency which led to him being signed by Barcelona as his club at the time because River Plate where unwilling to pay for his treatment. At an early age he had to leave his home and country behind to pursue his dream in a foreign country, all this at the age of eleven.
"When the year starts the objective is to win it all with the team, personal records are secondary." - Lionel Messi
Whenever Lionel Messi is reminded about achieving a new record or milestone he always refers back to the contribution of his teammates and that all records are secondary to the team's objectives. No one achieves greatness on their own and whether we realise it or not we are always part of a team. Success is achieved and maintained when you are able to identify your contribution to that team and understand how your role interacts with the roles of others in order to achieve glory. This will not only give you more success but also keep your ego under control so you will never forget that the team is more important than yourself.
"Goals are only important if they win games" - Lionel Messi
One of the many things that separates Lionel Messi from his counterparts is his mental focus on the pitch. He is able to apply his whole mental focus towards the present and what he needs to do in order to succeed now, not tomorrow or yesterday but now. Having this mental focus is vital for success. All too easily we can get sidetracked by thinking about what could be and what could have been. The past and future tempt our thoughts away from where they need to be and that is the only place that matters, the present.
"I always want more. Whether it's a goal or winning a game, I'm never satisfied" - Lionel Messi
Despite all the trophies and awards Lionel Messi is still hungry for more. It's this hunger that successful people share, the realisation that your journey doesn't end when you reach the top of the mountain because there are no heights to reach. When we achieve success we should celebrate our achievement but never forget that the celebration is for the one journey that has ended and for the new journey that is about to start.
Lionel Messi is the best player in the world and of his generation. The scary thing is that he's still only twenty seven, an age which traditionally sees the start of a player entering his prime. Theres a good chance that Lionel Messi shares a quality with the rest of us that is there still untapped. This potential means that the world has only seen the best we have offered and not the best that we have the potential to become.
About the author:
Mark Wager is a Leadership Coach who specialises in designing and facilitating leadership development programmes for companies who seek that competitive edge. Mark also has limited availability for people who seek individual coaching. For more details contact Mark via the enquiry form below
check out these other articles:
How To Deal With Your Inner Critic
Why Do Some Leaders Cling Onto Power?
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Posted: Monday 1 June 2015