Teaches the Athlete’s Mindset

Wayne Gretzky

Wayne Gretzky Teaches the Athlete's Mindset

“The Great One” shares the foundation behind his mindset and provides an overview of the class.

1. Meet Your Instructor: Wayne Gretzky

Meet Your Instructor: Wayne Gretzky

Wayne’s family’s love of sports provided the perfect environment to dream big dreams and learn valuable life lessons.

2. Play Sports. A Lot

Play Sports. A Lot

Learning to do something doesn’t necessarily require expensive equipment. Wayne’s father got creative with homemade methods to teach his son the fundamentals of hockey, which fueled Wayne’s love for the sport.

3. Dad’s DIY Guide to Learning Hockey

Dad’s DIY Guide to Learning Hockey

It’s important to find the person or people who inspire you and not only watch what they do but also learn how hard they worked to get to their level.

4. Idols and Inspiration

Idols and Inspiration

Wayne was six when he joined his first organized team, which was full of 10-year-olds. He continued playing with older age groups until turning pro at age 17. He says that competing against advanced players made him better.

5. Play Above Your Level

Play Above Your Level

Wayne believes that the freedom of an unstructured style of play on the ice and playing multiple sports in his youth gave him the advantages of creativity and versatility.

6. Creativity Over Structure

Creativity Over Structure

Sometimes, in order to do what’s best for your career, it’s necessary to make tough decisions that take you well out of your comfort zone. For Wayne, that meant moving away from his hometown at age 14 and living with families in other cities.

7. Great Expectations

Great Expectations

It’s nice to dream big, but to make those dreams come true you have to set realistic goals and achieve them one by one.

8. Set Attainable Goals

Set Attainable Goals

When you are hired to do a job, you have to be a professional, and you have a responsibility to meet the expectations of your employer and your teammates. Hockey is a game, but—especially at the pro level—it’s also a business.

9. Transitioning to the Big Leagues

Transitioning to the Big Leagues

Because everybody is working with different levels of talent and skill, it’s important to make honest assessments of what you are good at and what you are not.

10. Find Your Place

Find Your Place

In his second year in the NHL, Wayne acted on the advice of his dad and coaches, who spent years encouraging him to shoot more. He scored 50 goals in the first 39 games—an NHL record that most experts agree will likely never be broken.

11. You Miss 100% of the Shots You Don’t Take

You Miss 100% of the Shots You Don’t Take

The Oilers’ coach developed a creative style of play based on the unique talents of Wayne and his teammates, and it resulted in a completely different style of hockey and one of the most exciting teams in the league.

12. How to Build a Championship Team

How to Build a Championship Team

In losing their first chance at the Stanley Cup, the Oilers learned a valuable lesson in preparation and dedication: If you want to become the best, develop consistent habits and practice with a purpose.

13. The Mindset of a Champion

The Mindset of a Champion

A champion’s mindset means that success is not defined by a single victory. After winning their first Stanley Cup, Wayne and his teammates worked even harder the next year—and it resulted in three more championships.

14. Don’t Rest on Your Laurels

Don’t Rest on Your Laurels

Life is full of changes, so it’s important to be prepared for anything that is thrown your way. After winning four Stanley Cups in the span of five years in Edmonton, a Canadian city known for hockey, Wayne was traded to Los Angeles.

15. Expect the Unexpected

Expect the Unexpected

Accomplished players hold a unique position and have a responsibility to step up as leaders, but they should always make it a priority to earn the respect of their teammates.

16. Earning Respect From Your Peers

Earning Respect From Your Peers

You have to be present to win, and maintaining your physical and mental health allows you to be at your best for as long as possible.

17. Stay Healthy to Stay in the Game

Stay Healthy to Stay in the Game

Wayne holds more records than anyone in the history of the NHL and is widely known as the best hockey player who’s ever lived, but rather than talk about it, he is a big believer in leading by example and letting hard work speak for itself.

18. Walk the Walk

Walk the Walk

From growing up in sports to becoming a pro hockey player and the father of five kids, Wayne has a unique perspective on the way people handle youth sports. He believes it should be all about the fun.

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