Valiant Explorers

Founder, Valiant Explorers Pvt Ltd.

Christina Gerneth

Valiant Explorers Pvt Ltd. is founded to provide and promote events where the amateur and young players can show their talent and performance. But for many readers, sport is just a game. But here at Valiant we create and explore sports events where we can fine tune the raw talent of sportsperson to that of international level. If you have ability, self-confidence and some resources, your aim must be to quickly shift from being just a sportsman to an International sportsperson who grasps all the knowledge and excels in his game. At the least you should aim to quickly develop the skills and self-confidence. Even if you play a sport that you like, it is useful to think of it as a “project” or a “gig” that may last many years. Your role is to deliver a great outcome, learn a lot, build a good reputation in your stream of sport. While this may sound mercenary or scary, I have personally found this mind-set to be very liberating. The whole point is to quickly get to a point where your team need you much more than you need them. This is sports freedom.

To set yourself free, you need clarity around your core skill or talent, and the ability to develop this so it becomes valuable enough that people will pay to watch you. The ultimate timeless skill is the ability to build trust among your team members and lead the team; that can never be automated away. Whatever it is, become uniquely good at it and people will take notice and this is the nucleus around which you can build a sustainable sports career.

A Positive Attitude-

The good news however is that despite the changing sport scenario, there will still be good leagues happening. However, the competition for these will be a Darwinian survival of the fittest. The biggest challenge that every sportsperson will have is to differentiate themselves from others who may have a similar education and IQ. Over time I have come to learn and believe that the biggest and most sustainable differentiator is a positive attitude. For decades, managers were told to “hire sportsmen for attitude and train them for skills; this wisdom is both powerful and timeless. How do you characterize such a positive or “successful mind-set”? Over a long period of time, having observed thousands of sportsperson, I have concluded that these five factors are particularly important.

A strong ambition to be successful and the willingness to take initiative and work super hard to be successful. This is in contrast to those who wait to be told what to do and then do the least possible to comply.
Optimism in the face of adversity and failure rather than succumbing to pessimism, negativity and cynicism
Taking personal responsibility and accountability for your game and actions rather than feeling like a victim of others (Coach, parents, teachers) or life’s circumstances. A willingness to accept mistakes, openness to feedback, the desire to learn continuously are characteristic attributes.
Solution rather than problem orientation. Many people spend too much energy whining, wondering why a problem exists and whom to blame. Successful people quickly focus instead on possible solutions.
Belief in people and faith that most people are internally motivated, are responsible and don’t need constant supervision or simplistic rewards.

These are not traits that we are all born with. These are traits that winners consciously cultivate in themselves. Stephen Covey said that becoming an adult is fundamentally about taking responsibility for oneself and the word responsibility derives from “response-ability” i.e. the ability to consciously choose how we respond to any situation and choose the kind of person we wish to be. The good news is that no matter how you are today, you can cultivate a positive mind-set through conscious efforts. And that’s how we stand out from the herd. Being passionate, proactive, dependable and excellent is the equivalent of stotting in the sports jungle. In contrast, being “average”, waiting to do what’s told, a pessimistic or victim mentality will likely be lethal to your career prospects.