We live in a world that is ultra competitive in almost every area, from the sporting stadiums to the music charts, from the dog eat dog world of politics and to the winner takes all arena of business. It's all about being the best, the greatest, the first past the post or the one with the most money. Love it or loathe it, this is just the way life is.

Aiming to be the best we can personally be, however, is a worthy and healthy pursuit and can breed positivity and success in our careers and lives.

Many of today's sports men, women and teams now enlist the help of a sport psychologist in an attempt to boost performance and cultivate healthy minds and healthy bodies. In many sports, much of the battle to victory can be waged in the mind. A healthy and calm frame of mind suggests that performance will respond positively whilst a turbulent mind can lead performances to suffer as a result.

There are many skills taught and trained in sports psychology and it is believed that these same techniques can be carried over into any other competitive or demanding area of life. Confidence, control, relaxation, the ability to concentrate and the desire to reach and surpass goals can all be improved through the aid of sport psychology and are easily transferrable into the world of business and career.

There are an increasing number of sports psychologists as demand for their expertise grows, so, if you are looking for that extra cutting, career edge, perhaps it's time to investigate a little further.