Dreams–
What is your dream? Everyone has at least one. You were born with the ability to dream. Some people never go for their dream. They are not committed to achieving their dream. Others may start on the path to achieving their dream, but those they count upon for support – friends, family, teammates, and/or co-workers tell them their dream is too much work, too hard, too silly….so they abandon their dream. Still others begin the journey only to have detours get in their way….and they give up. They are willing to settle for “good enough,” however “good enough” never is. And then there are the dreamers who are willing to do WIT -“whatever it takes” to achieve their dreams.
Why dreams are important:
• They provide us with the passion necessary to reach our goals
• They give us direction
• They give us hope
• They grab us and move us
Discipline–
For me, when I was coaching, the word Discipline was quite simple. My players understood that discipline meant they were where they were supposed to be, when they were supposed to be there, doing what they were supposed to be doing. In other words, discipline means doing the right things at the right time and for the right reasons.
And it doesn’t matter – professional, businessman, teacher, student, athlete – discipline should hold the same meaning. Be accountable for your actions. Be on time for meetings, practice, appointments. Carry out your assignment to the best of your ability – without excuses. Own up to mistakes and failures, and resolve to improve your performance – and then take the action necessary to do so.
Desire–
“The starting point for all achievement is desire. Keep this constantly in mind. Weak desire brings weak results, just as a small amount of fire makes a small amount of heat.” Napoleon Hill
Just what is it you want out of life? The dictionary defines desire – to wish for; to want something very strongly. There is an old saying, “if wishes were horses, beggars would ride.” Wishing for something is not enough. You have to want it, being willing to work for it, be willing to do whatever it legally takes to achieve it. Last night must have been Will Smith night on TV. It seemed that every cable channel had Will Smith in a movie. But I settled on one movie for the umpteenth time – “The Pursuit of Happyness.” The movie was inspired by the real life story of Chris Gardner.
Gardner was a struggling salesman. His girlfriend walks out on him, leaving him with his 5 year old son, and his desire to be a success. Gardner lands a position as an unpaid intern in the highly competitive stockbroker training program. Evicted from his home, Gardner and his son are forced to sleep on the street, in public shelters, and in a locked Metro station bathroom. His desire to succeed and the love of his son helps Gardner succeed, eventually owning his own company.
Dedication–
“What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.” Ralph Waldo Emerson
Dedication is the price you pay to get what you want. It is the amount of time you are willing to work on something to achieve your dreams. It’s easy to dream – we were all born with the ability to dream. And, it is easy to start to take action towards reaching your dream. But that’s where the successful people separate themselves from the not-so-successful. The not-so-successful people look for excuses why they can’t do it. They give up or they give in. Successful people know that in order to finish first, you must first finish. They have a stick-to-it attitude. They understand that their mental and physical resources are much greater than they can imagine.
“Others can stop you temporarily. Only you can do it permanently.” Edge Keynote
Determination–
“The difference between the impossible and the possible lies in a man’s determination.” Tommy Lasorda
If you are a basketball fan, you probably have heard the name, Bill Bradley. Or, maybe you have heard of Senator Bill Bradley (N.J.). Prior to his All-American and All-NBA fame, Bill Bradley developed a work ethic and a willingness to pay the price to achieve his dreams.
Bradley was a deadly shooter – but that did not come automatically to Bradley. After basketball practice, Bradley would stay behind to work on his shooting – making 15 shots in a row from five spots on the floor. If he missed one shot, anywhere on the floor, he would begin his routine all over again. He would not leave until he made 75 shots in a row. This shooting regime accompanied Bradley to Princeton University and to the New York Knicks. But where did he develop such drive and commitment?
He attended basketball camp that was put on by professional basketball player, Ed Macauley. Macauley lectured to his campers, “When you’re not practicing, somewhere someone is. And when the two of you meet, given roughly equal ability, he will win.” Bradley took that to heart – hour after hour, shot after shot. For his four year high school career, Bill Bradley scored over 3,000 points.
“I found that I could find the energy…that I could find the determination to keep going. I learned that your mind can amaze your body, if you just keep telling yourself, I can do it, I can do it, I can do it!” Jon Erickson
Tom Hughes is a coach, educator, author, and motivational speaker. He has an MEd from Pittsburg State University. He has taught and coached on the high school, college, and professional levels. Since 2001 Tom has written Motivational Moments, a free motivational newsletter. He authored “Power Thoughts for Coaching Basketball, a m His website is: http://www.motivationnmore.com Tom has posted a link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hlvLPLLm3Rc A short segment of the speaking engagement with Coldwell Banker Real Estate. |