Besides Phelps athletic ability, something really impressive is how he has handled life. We've read in recent articles about how his father left the family when Michael was young and how his dad has not had much communication with him. In many young men, this could seriously result in self-doubt. Isn't it impressive how Michael has maintained a belief in himself yet been so humble?
He also has ADHD, at least he did as a child, so is it not extremely impressive how he has been able to overcome this and keep his focus? I read somewhere that he asked his mom to take him off his medication when he was only 11.
Michael has had to overcome things in life that some people might use as an excuse for their misbehavior or as an explaination for their failure to succeed. In light of all of this, aren't the 8 golds all the more impressive?
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If Michael Phelps had dedicated this much effort to basketball or track - I guarantee you would have never even heard his name.
Another famous Michael (Jordan) had believed his success was due to his hard work until he tried to make it in Major League Baseball. He then realized that talent had a role as well!
It seems to me we focus too much on winning and not enough on maximizing personal performance based on where you're starting from. I always tell people to focus on improving their own results--something they can control to a large extent--and not to worry about things they can't control, like whether they win (which depends on, among other things, how talented the competition is). Because, face it, for almost all of us, there are faster people around than us, and we're going to lose if they show up!
If Michael Phelps had dedicated this much effort to basketball or track - I guarantee you would have never even heard his name.
Another famous Michael (Jordan) had believed his success was due to his hard work until he tried to make it in Major League Baseball. He then realized that talent had a role as well!
It seems to me we focus too much on winning and not enough on maximizing personal performance based on where you're starting from. I always tell people to focus on improving their own results--something they can control to a large extent--and not to worry about things they can't control, like whether they win (which depends on, among other things, how talented the competition is). Because, face it, for almost all of us, there are faster people around than us, and we're going to lose if they show up!
