There are no true secrets to becoming a better competitor. The principles are the same, no matter what sport you participate in. What follows are five very specific ways in which you can immediately become a better competitor and athlete. Whether you are a weekend warrior, or an Olympian-to-be, implement these strategies and see for yourself.

1. Forget about the win, focus on the fight

This principle is the most important difference between mediocre athletes and those that succeed at the highest level of their sport. I believe that sports provide us a great metaphor for life, in that they teach us how to work towards goals, individually and with others, and how to pick ourselves up after trying circumstances. That being said, sports stink in one regard: They teach us that life is all about wins and losses. In sport, there is always a winner, and always a loser.

In life, the same is not true. It is not a zero-sum game, where one person