Legends: Leaving Sweat and Blood on the Dancefloor called Life
“Amateurs quit when they are tired. Champions quit only when they have won.” ― Matshona Dhliwayo
“Don’t aim to break records, aim to shatter them.” ― Matshona Dhliwayo
“Everyone has the fire, but the champions know when to ignite the spark.” – Amit Ray
“To be a champion, you have to learn to handle stress and pressure. But if you’ve prepared mentally and physically, you don’t have to worry.” – Harvey Mackay
“The average is only consumed with today, but the champion is obsessed with tomorrow before it arrives; therefore, he or she plans for it.” – Alex Karev
Cleaners
I recently heard a song “Blood on the Dancefloor” by a Nigerian group by the name Odumodu. It’s a very graphic image if you take it literally. My interpretation on this phrase is leaving no stone unturned and been the champion and best at what you do.
You leave the field of other competitors beaten and helpless on the dance floor in your arena of operation and play. This is the mentality of champions. They are geared to take out competition.
Borrowing a phrase from the book Relentless: From Good to Great to Unstoppable – Tim S Grover and Shari Lesser Wenk. They have a term for ruthless and efficient operators. They are called cleaners, they come in and get the job done.
The Greats
When we study cleaners, they do not leave anything to chance, they are totally clear cut about their objectives, goals and what needs to get done. They do not leave any stone unturned to get the job done. They know what is at stake in any endeavor or task they undertake.
It’s a do or die mission they literally leave ‘Blood on the Dancefloor’ They will do what it takes and take no prisoners. They are the sharks, lions that you don’t want to mess with. They will pay the price, sacrifice and go out of their way to ensure they achieve their objectives.
They are never content with average or the word mediocre. They always go the extra mile. They push further each and every time. They do not hesitate to stretch beyond their comfort zones. They will take the necessary risks to break out and reach the stratosphere.
The elite services in Armies all over the world belong to this group. Their ethos is excellence. The SEALS, Spestnaz, SAS, Rangers, DELTA Force and other special forces groups operate in that elite and peak mindset. They are the operators that get the dirty and unwanted tasks done and completed.
Examples of cleaners in different fields
Scientists
Albert Einstein
Nikola Tesla
Marie Curie
Isaac Newton
Thomas Edison
Music
Michael Jackson
The Beatles
Tina Turner
Mozart
Soccer
Pele
Maradona
Lionel Messi
Ronaldo
Artists
Picasso
Leonardo Da Vinci
Rembrandt
Politics
Nelson Mandela
Mahatma Gandhi
George Washington
Sports
Usain Bolt
Michael Jordan
Kobe Bryant
Novak Djokovic
Michael Schumacher
Lewis Hamilton
Serena Williams
Steffi Graf
Mohammad Ali
Floyd Mayweather Junior
Rodger Federer
Business
John Rockefeller
Warren Buffet
Bill Gates
Elon Musk
Donald Trump
Aliko Dangote
Oprah Winfrey
Henry Ford
Sam Walton
Summary
What mentality and level of performance do you want to attain? Do you want to be remembered as average, mediocre or as a cleaner? Get going, keep on raising your standards and push to the level you know you can reach.