One-handed fighter Nick Newell is a very inspirational figure in mixed martial arts. There's so many things we can learn from Newell, but here are six which stand out.
1. No Excuses
Nick could have easily looked at his situation and thought to himself that he was dealt a bad deck of cards and should give up on any dreams which entered his mind, and folded. But he had the mentality that he wasn't going to let any physical afflictions get in the way of him pursuing his passions and dreams.
2. Adapt
If you injured your right arm, now it's a great opportunity to work on your left. If you can't do Jiu Jitsu training because of a certain injury, now you can work on your striking. If you're out of commission and can't train for six months, you can work on strengthening your mind, you're mental game, your nutrition, and other intangibles which an improve your life and career.
3. Perseverance
With a dismal 2-22 record his first year in wrestling, Newell could have easily given up and tried something else, but he decided to keep at it, work hard, and persevere. It wasn't his natural physical abilities which has led him to success, it's his determination.
4. Change your identity
Nick Newell wasn't at all satisfied with a 2-22 record in wrestling his first year; his identity was that of a winner and to him that was a disgusting feeling to have that score to his name. He worked hard to overcome that, work his way into MMA and generate a perfect MMA record. His view of himself was that of a winner and he worked hard to get to that position.
5. Believe in yourself
Nobody would have believed that Newell would be able to become an MMA fighter, and then actually become a great competitor in the sport. He had to believe in his own abilities and really dig down deep to have faith in himself when even the closest around him doubted.
6. Inspire others
When you work for a cause bigger than yourself, that can have a tremendous impact on how far you go. Newell isn't just fighting for himself, but to inspire others who have physical disabilities and the world in general. He fights for his own fulfillment, but there's also a bigger purpose for motivating and inspiring the world; and he has done a tremendous job.
