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Dean Lister: “Want To Succeed? Then Be Careful Who You Choose As Your Girlfriend/Boyfriend”

Dean Lister: “Want To Succeed? Then Be Careful Who You Choose As Your Girlfriend/Boyfriend”

If you want to succeed in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu – whatever that may mean for you… Heck, if you want to succeed in whatever your heart desires – then you’ll need to make sacrifices along the way. You’ll need to make smart decisions and cut yourself short from making mistakes which could stop you from reaching your dreams.
One of those kinds of mistakes is being in a relationship with a girlfriend or boyfriend who is pulling you backwards. Dean Lister explained why that’s the case in an interview with BJJ Eastern Europe:

Be careful of who you choose as your girlfriend or boyfriend. This is very important, as it can turn out very positively or very negatively for you, depending on who you’re with. I know several fighters who could’ve been world level, but who made a wrong decision with their boyfriend or girlfriend. I got to meet men and women that no one else will ever know.

I don’t want to sound super negative, but you need to realize that many people don’t want to see you happy or successful or achieving your dreams in life. An average person, someone you might not even know, will consciously or subconsciously send negative energy towards your dreams.
„What, you think that you could win that tournament? No, those guys are too strong for you!“ Or: „You think that you could be a doctor? Do you know how much time and studying and money that will cost you?“ These are very common and come in various shapes and sizes.

So, don’t tell your dreams to strangers or to people that you don’t care about. Ignore the negative opinions and gossip – OR make these things work for you. They will make you stronger, as they have made me!

He also shared some excellent advice for everyone looking to make a career in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu:

Relax and don’t give up. Find a good coach and a good team. If you want to be a professional in grappling one day and make money, make sure that you have a back-up plan; a job or a career that you can turn to, in case something unexpected happens with your life.

Interested in hearing more advice from Dean Lister? Then don’t forget to read our full interview with him.