Persistence – Don’t leave before the miracle happens

I learned the hard way that the primary key to success is not talent. It isn’t brains, looks, or education. It isn’t any of the things that you are taught growing up. No, the key to success at any level is persistence. To succeed, one needs to continually strive to get what they want. And when I say continually strive, I don’t mean work harder, etc., I mean picking yourself up when knocked down and continuing the fight until you get what it is you want and to expect and learn from your failures.

Some people call it suit up and show up. When I was a freshman in high school in 1776, I played soccer on the school’s soccer team. I didn’t go out for soccer because of some deep love of the game. No, as an American I played soccer because I knew it would force me to get into excellent physical condition for my first sport love, basketball. Even then I understood my own shortcomings and knew that if I didn’t have someone or something driving me to workout, I would not have been in good enough shape for basketball.

Before each practice, our soccer coach made us run about 2 miles around the soccer field as a warm up run. We would then perform additional stretching and strength exercises that I hated more than anything. You see, I was very lazy and didn’t want to do it even though I knew that is why I went out for soccer. And worse yet, my coach knew I was lazy and that didn’t particularly sit well with him. He didn’t really like me.

As I said, we ran before each practice, but I what I didn’t tell you was that the players that came in first, second and third in the run were guaranteed to start in the next game no matter how well or poorly they practiced. It was an incentive or reward for working hard. I can assure you, I never started any games and never came in first or second. Nope, lazy guys coast.

Before practice one warm afternoon, I was feeling pretty good for no particular reason and got out to an early lead in front of the pack. Once there, I was surprised at how well I was running and was so excited about the prospect of winning and starting the next game. I just kept running, building a bigger and bigger lead. I allowed myself to project ahead at how the coach would meet me at the finish line, pat me on the back, and tell me he always knew I had it in me. I could envision my team mates expressing their support. I could even see myself inviting my parents to the next game to see me start. Yes, I saw a whole new life starting for me as I put one foot in front of the other.

As I was rounding the final turn to come down the home stretch, I was firmly in second place, well ahead of all of the rest of the players. I was cruising home and realizing I was about to accomplish something great this day. As I glanced over to the area where the coaches were normally standing and waiting for us to finish, I could see no coaches. I panned around looking for them, but there were no adults anywhere to be found.

I was shocked and angry. I couldn’t believe that I had done all this hard work, run two miles in pursuit of a goal that was becoming fleeting, and one that in the end I would not accomplish at all. I was so mortified I just stopped. I simply gave up. I stopped running about 100 yards short of the finish line.

As each of my team mates ran past me looking at me with puzzled confusion, I just wallowed in my anger and self pity, cursing my coach and life itself under my breath. I walked over to the gathering of my team mates and stood there fuming. A couple of them asked me why I had stopped just short of the finish line, but I didn’t answer. Anger had my tongue and consumed my thoughts. Silent scorn reigned king.

A few minutes went by and the coaches finally joined us. They had been in a team meeting that ran a little long. I secretly glared at my coach, barely supressing the rage I had at his inconsiderate behavior when he looked up and asked the group “ok guys, who came in first, second and third?”

What did he just say? What just happened? I couldn’t believe my ears. Wait, I came in second!!! Well, I almost did. I was in second the whole time, but….but, I let my anger and self-inflicted defeatism prevent me from succeeding and receiving my just rewards. My anger and frustration at my coach now turned inward into self-loathing and disappointment at having quit just yards from my goal. I let my momentary, insignificant set-back totally prevent me from achieving this reward that moments earlier I had worked so hard for.It didn’t hit me then, but later I realized that I could never let that happen again. I had to find it within me to achieve my dreams without the promise of reward. I had to do what was required to persist beyond the expectations of others, high or low, and set the bar high enough for me.

Don’t leave before the miracle happens.

Let me know what you think.If you have any questions, please feel free to email at mike@directyourcareer.com