Instead, it is his pure joy for living life and riding his bicycle.

Imagine a top athlete during an exhausting fish-out-of-water corporate sponsor day in the off-season. Not many would want to squeeze in a tough workout during their precious downtime. Instead, they would probably choose eating a proper meal, relaxing, and summoning the energy to "get through" the rest of the obligation.

As everyone he touched during these events can attest, Lance was in the moment, enjoying himself and his company at all times. Developing the ability to go with the flow and enjoy every experience that life has to offer, even when things don't go exactly as desired orhoped for, is the essence of "how Lance does it."

Lance Armstrong's approach to life is remarkably simple and clean, devoid of the psychological "issues" that make life a bitch for ordinary people.

It just so happens that he became the ultimate sports celebrity, so the world has been able to deeply appreciate the results generated when he did what he loved on his bicycle.

The qualities that make Lance a great champion are a mysterious blend of genetics, background, attitude, and behavior molded by years of life experience. We will have a ball analyzing the particulars to bring meaning and generate inspiration from his example.

Yet for Lance, everything must remain ridiculously simple. No one ever won the Tour de France by contemplating winning the Tour de France.

To get insights about what motivates this champion, read on. . .

Excerpted from: How Lance Does It: Put the success formula of a champion into everything you do by Brad Kearns.
Kearns has been a friend of Armstrong since their days as teammates on the pro triathlon circuit in the late 1980s. Kearns is a noted speaker, author and coach.
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Copyright 2007. Reprinted with permission from Tata McGraw-Hill Publishing Company Limited.
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Image: Professional cyclist Lance Armstrong attends the Tory Burch Fall 2008 fashion presentation during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Fall 2008 at Christie's on February 5, 2008 in New York City.

Photograph: Amy Sussman/Getty Images