The college football championship was the kind of game fans dream of. It brought together two undefeated teams and a Heisman winning quarterback. When the last play was over the LSU Tigers were crowned for having a perfect season. That’s not something that happens on the regular.

Then there’s Serena Williams and Michael B Jordan who’re champions in their own right. Williams with her superhuman performances on the tennis court and Jordan with his superhero acclaim on the big screen. They’re built like weight room stock as they reach for new goals and advocate for denied souls.

Plus, they have a lot riding on how they prepare for the next phase of their best life. Williams was recently named the AP athlete of the decade. She’s won more championship titles in a 10-year span than any tennis player past or present. Her grand slam wins have taken her to the top of the heap in the sport.

Jordan’s career brings flashbacks to a stint on the Cosby show before landing his breakout performance in Fruitvale Station. He’s described as having delivered an Oscar-worthy performance in Just Mercy. In between those movies he brought the Rocky-themed flick back to life by starring in Creed.

Recently, Williams was seen working out in the boxing gym, with coaching tips from Mike Tyson. She’s focused on fine-tuning certain parts of her game in order to have more than a fighting chance to make history. They’ll tell you that their work involves preparing for the grind in mind, body and spirit for the new:

1. Season

A new year might not always line-up as a new season. Sometimes it’s the continuation of things that have already started. What happens in the off-season sets the stage for the results during the season. She’s spent time readying for the grand-slam season on things like strength, flexibility, power and endurance.

2. Project

Williams takes seriously her efforts to affect women’s issues. When not on the court, she’s exploring projects that help her grow personally or might make a difference generationally. She aims for greatness that isn’t limited to tennis titles she’ll earn but also the legacy she’ll leave behind.

3. Level

Each time Jordan has played in a movie he’s taken his acting chops to another level. That’s a sign of his growth and development. We’ve watched it happen right before our eyes from Fruitvale Station to Friday Night Lights to Creed and more recently in Black Panther.

4. Role

For his latest role in Just Mercy, he remembers getting the script and feeling embarrassed that he didn’t know about the Equal Justice Initiative and Bryan Stevenson. But he spent time doing the research to up his social justice cred. Now he’s working on a new role in a Tom Clancy film called Without Remorse.

Jordan recently took a visit to his old high school that was part photo shoot and part meet and greet. Williams after her recent tournament donated all the prize money to the Australian fire relief. You can’t count them out as underdogs. That’s because they put the work in to advance their game and a cause.

Tip: You prepare for the next phase of your best life by how you put in the work to advance your game and a cause.

Talkback: So did Jordan also get snubbed in not getting an Oscar nomination?

Tracks: Alicia Keys – Underdog – https://youtu.be/izyZLKIWGiA

Billie Eilish – Everything I Wanted – https://youtu.be/SlnTiyjaFsg