Workplace Performance Lessons from McGregor and Mayweather

Sep 25, 2022

I don't know who your money was on but the sports entertainment world certainly didn't disappoint when it came to putting on a great show in the lead up to the McGregor-Mayweather (let’s call it the M&M”) fight. The mind games, hype and statistics flying around and creating suspense about who would win.

Boxing isn’t just about fist punches, winners and money. There’s a whole load of psychology behind how opponents use their mindsets to their advantage or let it destroy them. So let’s explore how this can be applied to the workplace...

Round 1: Focus Your Mind

You can talk all you want but action is what it takes to get results. Elite fighters know that they’ve trained their bodies for maximum performance so it’s the mental preparation that makes the difference on fight day. Boxers use a technique called SPERA to remind themselves that they are in the best possible physical and mental condition. They visualise their success and focus on the prize.  McGregor remarked about Mayweather that he’s “not that fast, he’s not that powerful, but boy is he composed in there.”

At work, stop wasting time and energy overthinking about things you’re not happy about. Channel your mindset towards achieving your goals. The mind is powerful - even in a physical situation -and elite sporting stars reinforce this.  

Often, you can put your head down and conquer that mountain of work with less effort than it takes to spend half your day resenting or complaining about things (or people) you can’t change. Shut out the noise, stay present and get moving to get the results you want.

Round 2: Be Patient

Boxing teaches patience, endurance, discipline, mental focus, and the ability to use energy effectively. Mayweather took three rounds to suss out McGregor before spending the following seven walking him down and finally closing in the 10th round TKO.

Focus on the right moves - the moves that will give you the best return. Results may not be instantaneous and that’s fine. Sometimes life knocks you down or gives you a hypothetical punch in the face. It’s up to you to reset, refocus and go forth with the end in mind. Whether that’s $100,000,000 or the victory of succeeding at something you put your mind to ;)

In Rocky Balboa’s own words, “it ain’t about how hard you hit; it’s about how hard you can get hit, and keep moving forward.” Wise words there.

Round 3: It’s Not Just About Winning

Finally, there’s more to it than just personal glory and McGregor knows this. Mayweather now has a stellar 50-0 undefeated career record as he heads into retirement. That's remarkable.

However, let’s not forget McGregor. As an MMA fighter, pure boxing is not his forte. Yet, this didn’t stop him from stepping up and challenging a boxing world champ and one of the greatest fighters of all time.

The key point? He wasn’t afraid to try. Kudos to McGregor for giving this fight his best shot and not giving up. Even in the last seconds before the 10th round TKO ruling, McGregor kept up his determined demeanour and fighting spirit. His mental attitude and drive spurred him on.

It’s not just about winning. It’s about putting in 100% and getting out of your comfort zone. This is the only way to stretch yourself and grow - and top performing athletes like McGregor are well aware of this.

So this week, take on a challenge. Use the fight within you to get the results you want. Stretch yourself out of your comfort zone.

And. Never. Give. Up.

If you or your team need help mastering your mindset, talk to us about how we can set you up for long-term success. Discover how to achieve enhanced focus, greater resilience, higher productivity and top productivity.

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