Having spent over two decades studying the world's best in different endeavours, to see what they did to get to world class, I don't believe the "formula" or "ingredients" have changed. My development as an umpire on the cricket field from grassroots to the international level, followed by several years in training, coaching and administration, has taught me a lot about myself and what it takes to get to number one. I wanted to share my successes, failures, and learnings with a broader audience. For those who I cannot meet face to face, I'd love to have a conversation with you via this book. I want to share some of the highs, the lows and critical takeaways, about what it takes to get to world-class, stay there and exit on your own terms.
If you don't already have a coach or a mentor, get one. It was one of the best decisions I made early on in my career, and even today, I still have and use them. This book covers many transferrable skills and techniques that can be applied to just about any vocation or person. If you seek sustainable success and longevity at the top level, you need to be a good person. We are who we are every hour of every day and our personal qualities and values underpin whatever we choose to do with our lives. The door to personal growth and development opens inwards.
Most of us are good at something, and the challenge is to be great - I sincerely hope that the contents of the chapters help you identify the performance gaps (with your coach) that can be closed so that you too can be great.
We live in an age of increased self-gratification and self-interest. There are significant leadership challenges in many industries, political parties, religions, companies, and sports. We seem to be crying out for our leaders to do the right thing, to make the hard decisions and to serve with humility, respect, and compassion. Just like the game of cricket, leaders can get themselves into trouble when they take something simple and over complicate it.
One of my dislikes is seeing things wasted. I dislike wasted opportunity, wasted talent, wasted food and wasted money for example. It is so disappointing to see people with talent not use it to their potential, to see people not explore opportunities and try, or see food go into the bin when others are so hungry. Have you ever reflected on how many people would give a lot to have your talents or your opportunity or your health and abilities? Why would you not use them to their potential? Apart from asking you to think about your own "game," whatever your "game" is (business, sport, charity or contribution to society), I hope that this book inspires you to reach for your potential and try something new.
Thank you and well done for deciding to pick up this book. I hope that you will get something valuable out of it that will make a difference if you choose to act on it. While knowledge is powerful, it is useless unless you do something with the information. My challenge to you is to take at least one thing from each chapter and make a positive shift in behaviour to be a better you - to be the best person you can be.