Dr. Terry Orlick was a world-renowned sport psychologist, professor, and author who dedicated his life to understanding the mental skills that lead to excellence in sport and life. His practical, humanistic approach has influenced countless athletes, coaches, and high-achievers across various fields. His work emphasizes the power of focus, commitment, and a positive mindset.

On the Nature of Excellence

  1. "The heart of human excellence often begins to beat when you discover a pursuit that absorbs you, frees you, challenges you, or gives you a sense of meaning, joy, or passion."[1]
    • Source: In Pursuit of Excellence
    • Link: A-Z Quotes
  2. "Excellence is a choice—choose to excel."
    • Source: In Pursuit of Excellence
    • Learning: This simple but profound statement underscores that achieving excellence is not a matter of chance but a conscious decision that requires dedicated action.
  3. "Nobody hands you excellence on a silver platter. You earn it through planning, preparing, and persisting in the face of all obstacles."[1]
    • Source: In Pursuit of Excellence
    • Link: A-Z Quotes
  4. "Belief is the mother of reality. Excellence is a state of mind."[1]
    • Source: Embracing Your Potential
    • Link: A-Z Quotes
  5. "Excellence is not a singular act but a habit."
    • Source: In Pursuit of Excellence
    • Learning: This highlights that excellence is cultivated through consistent daily actions and a commitment to continuous improvement.

The Wheel of Excellence: Core Learnings

Orlick's "Wheel of Excellence" is a model outlining the seven key psychological components necessary for achieving peak performance.

  1. Learning: Excellence is guided by seven critical elements. These are Commitment, Belief, Full Focus, Positive Images, Mental Readiness, Distraction Control, and Constructive Evaluation.[2]
  2. Learning: Commitment and Belief form the heart of human excellence. They are the hub of the wheel, representing your overall perspective, your desire, and your passion for your pursuit.[3]
  3. Learning: The remaining five elements are the "spokes" of the wheel. Full Focus, Positive Images, Mental Readiness, Distraction Control, and Constructive Evaluation are the mental skills that translate commitment and belief into positive action.[2]

On Focus and the Mind

  1. "Where the mind goes, everything follows."[1]
    • Source: In Pursuit of Excellence
    • Link: A-Z Quotes
  2. "A fully connected focus is a complete, positive connection with an experience, learning opportunity, performance, action, or interaction."[4]
  3. "The ultimate goal is to be able to hold that best focus, that total connection, throughout your entire performance."
    • Source: In Pursuit of Excellence
    • Learning: Sustaining focus is a key differentiator for top performers, and it's a skill that can be trained and developed.
  4. "Why compound the problem by focusing your energy on things that are beyond your immediate control?"
    • Source: In Pursuit of Excellence
    • Learning: Direct your mental energy only toward what you can influence. Worrying about uncontrollable factors is a waste of this precious resource.
  5. "Worry is one of the greatest inhibitors of skilled performance."
    • Source: In Pursuit of Excellence
    • Learning: Anxiety and worry actively hinder your ability to perform at your best. Developing strategies to manage these is crucial.
  6. "When you control what you focus on and what you do not focus on, you begin to control your own life and your own destiny."
    • Source: Interview with Terry Orlick
    • Learning: The power of focus is the power to shape your reality and outcomes.

On Commitment and Belief

  1. "Excellence requires an incredible commitment to persist through the ups and downs."
    • Source: The Wheel of Excellence
    • Learning: True commitment is tested not when things are going well, but in the face of adversity.
  2. "Your commitment will grow when your focus is centered on continuing to learn and grow."
    • Source: In Pursuit of Excellence
    • Learning: A growth mindset is essential for maintaining long-term commitment.
  3. "To excel, you must believe that you are investing in something worthwhile and that you have a good chance of making it happen."[2]
  4. "Belief opens the door to higher levels of excellence, and higher levels of excellence open the door to higher levels of belief."[2]
  5. "Your performance is largely a function of your expectations for yourself."
    • Source: In Pursuit of Excellence
    • Learning: Self-perception and self-belief directly impact your performance levels.

On Mental Imagery and Positive Mindset

  1. "Your images lead your reality. They always have and always will."
    • Source: In Pursuit of Excellence
    • Learning: Mental imagery is a powerful tool for shaping your beliefs, confidence, and ultimately your performance.
  2. "In sport, mental imagery is used primarily to help you get the best out of yourself in training and competition."[1]
    • Source: In Pursuit of Excellence
    • Link: A-Z Quotes
  3. "The developing athletes who make the fastest progress... make extensive use of mental imagery."[1]
    • Source: In Pursuit of Excellence
    • Link: A-Z Quotes
  4. "If the people around you are negative and you can't change that, either remove yourself from the situation or view it simply as one obstacle you face in pursuing your own potential."[5]
    • Source: Embracing Your Potential
    • Link: Lib Quotes
  5. "Stay focused on your own goals and make the best of the situation."[5]
    • Source: Embracing Your Potential
    • Link: Lib Quotes
  6. "Negativity sucks away energy."
    • Source: Embracing Your Potential
    • Learning: Be mindful of the energy you surround yourself with, as it will impact your own.
  7. Learning: Practice "treasure hunting for highlights." Actively look for simple, positive experiences in your daily life to cultivate a more positive focus.
    • Source: Positive Living Skills: Joy and Focus for Everyone

On Learning and Growth

  1. "A refined ability to learn from failure and to grow through losses is necessary to achieve excellence in any human endeavor."[1]
    • Source: In Pursuit of Excellence
    • Link: A-Z Quotes
  2. Learning: Engage in "Constructive Evaluation." This involves reflecting on what went well and identifying specific areas for improvement, turning every experience into a learning opportunity.[2]
  3. "I learn from setbacks and turn them into positive opportunities for personal growth."
    • Source: In Pursuit of Excellence
    • Learning: This is a powerful affirmation for reframing challenges.
  4. "Act upon the lessons learned."
    • Source: The Wheel of Excellence
    • Learning: Evaluation is only useful if it leads to action and adjustment.[2]
  5. "Every day in some way I am better, wiser, more adaptable, more focused, more confident, and more in control."
    • Source: In Pursuit of Excellence
    • Learning: This affirmation reinforces the daily commitment to growth and self-improvement.

On Potential and Personal Responsibility

  1. "Your potential is not something you find; it is something you create."
    • Source: Embracing Your Potential
    • Learning: You are an active participant in the development of your own capabilities.
  2. "You are the only one who can take full control of you and your own focus."
    • Source: In Pursuit of Excellence
    • Learning: Personal responsibility is the cornerstone of achieving excellence.
  3. "I am in control of my thinking, my focus, my life."
    • Source: In Pursuit of Excellence
    • Learning: A key self-affirmation to reinforce personal agency.
  4. "I am fully capable of achieving the goals that I set for myself."
    • Source: In Pursuit of Excellence
    • Learning: This statement builds self-efficacy and confidence in one's abilities.
  5. "What I decide, I become."
    • Source: In Pursuit of Excellence
    • Learning: Your decisions and commitments shape your identity and your future.

On Teamwork and Relationships

  1. "We cannot win in team situations or in relationships by ourselves."[6]
    • Source: Embracing Your Potential
    • Link: Lib Quotes
  2. "Teamwork is a bit like using all of your fingers. Each one is unique and contributes something different, but they unite in pursuit of a common goal."[6]
    • Source: Embracing Your Potential
    • Link: Lib Quotes

On Life and Well-Being

  1. Learning: Balance the "Gold Zone" and the "Green Zone." The Gold Zone represents tangible achievements (career, finances), while the Green Zone encompasses relationships and personal well-being. True success lies in nurturing both.[7]
    • Source: Embracing Your Potential
    • Link: Goodreads
  2. "Highlights are simple constructive experiences, influences, activities, or connections that result in happiness, quality, and sense into a person's life."
    • Source: Positive Living Skills: Joy and Focus for Everyone
    • Learning: Joy can be found in the small, everyday positive moments.
  3. "The simple act of reflecting back on highlights or special moments in your day gives you positive energy."[8]
    • Source: Positive Living Skills: Joy and Focus for Everyone
    • Link: Goodreads
  4. "A life that includes daily relaxation... is the best path to positive, balanced living."[4]
  5. "I choose to live my life fully."
    • Source: In Pursuit of Excellence
    • Learning: This is a conscious decision to engage with life with passion and purpose.
  6. Learning: Positive living skills are the "missing link" in education. We teach academics, but often neglect to teach the skills for how to be a happier, more fulfilled human being.
    • Source: Interview with Terry Orlick
  7. "Winning is not just about being first; it's about doing your best and enjoying the journey."
    • Source: Every Kid Can Win
    • Learning: This redefines success in a healthier, more sustainable way, especially for young people.
  8. "My powerful mind and body are one. I free them to excel."
    • Source: In Pursuit of Excellence
    • Learning: This affirmation emphasizes the critical mind-body connection in performance.
  9. Learning: The goal of Positive Living Skills is to create better people, better performers, and a better world.[8]
    • Source: Positive Living Skills: Joy and Focus for Everyone
    • Link: Goodreads
  10. "I control the step in front of me by focusing fully on that step."
    • Source: In Pursuit of Excellence
    • Learning: Breaking down large goals into manageable, present-moment actions is key to achieving them.
  11. Learning: Mental readiness is a skill. It's the ability to get yourself into the right frame of mind to perform, and it can be developed through pre-performance routines.
    • Source: The Wheel of Excellence
  12. "Every meaningful action, interaction, and personal accomplishment begins with a fully connected focus."
    • Source: Positive Living Skills: Joy and Focus for Everyone
    • Learning: The quality of your focus determines the quality of your life's experiences.

Sources  

  1. azquotes.com
  2. zoneofexcellence.ca
  3. johndabell.com
  4. zoneofexcellence.ca
  5. libquotes.com
  6. libquotes.com
  7. goodreads.com
  8. goodreads.com