How to Be a Winner

Sir Steven Redgrave

Winner of 5 Olympic Gold Medals

“In 1997 I was found to have developed diabetes (糖尿病). Believing my career was over, I felt extremely low. Then one of the specialists said there was no reason why I should stop training and competing. That was the encouragement I needed. I could still be a winner if I believed in myself. I am not saying that it isn’t difficult sometimes. But I wanted to prove to myself that I wasn't finished yet. Nothing is to stand in my way.”

Karen Pickering

Swimming World Champion

“I swim 4 hours a day, 6 days a week. I manage that sort of workload by putting it on top of my diary. This is the key to success —you can’t follow a career in any field without being well-organized. List what you believe you can achieve. Trust yourself, write down your goals for the day, however small they are, and you’ll be a step closer to achieving them.”

Kirsten Best

Poet & Writer

“When things are getting hard, a voice inside my head tells me that I can’t achieve something. Then there are other distractions, such as family or hobbies. The key is to concentrate. When I feel tense, it helps a lot to repeat words such as ‘calm’, ‘peace’ or ‘focus’, either out loud or silently in my mind. It makes me feel more in control and increases my confidence. This is a habit that can become second nature quite easily and is a powerful psychological(心理的) tool.”

These four good habits will improve some aspects of your life.

【小题1】. In truth, it’s not the best way to get things done. Instead of jumping from one thing to the next like a ping-pong ball, stick with one task as long as you can. That concentrated time you spend on one thing will be far more productive. 【小题2】.

Imagine all things in your home have a place where they live. For example, toys go into a basket when they’re not in use. 【小题3】. If you regularly (定期的) have lots of things that have nowhere to go, it may be time to make some hard choices about what you really want to keep.

Get up at the same time every day, preferably all seven days a week. A consistent (一致的) sleep schedule helps form your body’s circadian rhythm (昼夜节律). Sleeping late on the weekends is not bad. But it feels better to get regular rests every day.

Saying yes to everything can be a difficult habit to break for most of us. But learning how to draw a line is one of the best things you can do for yourself. You have the power not to agree to help everyone else with their problems. 【小题5】. Your time is just as valuable as everyone else’s.

I love exploring new places. Whether I travel across America or around the world，a new adventure is always waiting. What I don’t always enjoy is the time spent 9,000 meters（30,000 feet）in the air. Tight spaces, long hours, and unexpected-problems can make air travel stressful. Follow these six tips to make your next flight a braze.

1. Make a checklist. Before you pack, make a checklist of everything you need and mark item off as you put them in your bag. Be sure you include important documents, such as your passport.

2. Pack light. You don’t need to pack your whole closet. Choose clothes that mix and match for more variety. Wear your largest shoes on the place to save room in your bag. And pack a few old items that you can leave behind to make more room for souvenirs(纪念品) on the way home.

3. Carry on essential(基本的) items. Unfortunately, dependable baggage service is hard to come by. When you fly, be sure to pack your medicine, important documents, and a change of clothes in your carry-on bag.

4. Pack water and snacks. No one wants to get stuck on a runway for hours without food, water. But bad weather or mechanical problems could leave you stranded(进退两难的). Pack water and crackers in your carry-on. But leave fresh foods at home. Most countries won’t allow you to bring them across their borders.

5. Stretch your legs. More and more travelers suffer from blood clots caused by sitting too long in tight spaces. You can help prevent this problem by doing stretches in your seat taking short walks every hour.

6. Entertain yourself. A long trip can either mean hours of boredom or an exciting adventure. Plan ahead to keep yourself busy with books, magazines and portable CD player. Just don’t forget to bring extra batteries.

7. Research airlines before you book your reservations. For just a few dollars more, some airlines offer personal entertainment systems. Singapore Air gives you nearly 70 choices of movies，music channels, and other entertainment!

With a little planning ahead，you’ll be able to sit back and enjoy the ride.