Look Past the Hurdles

In the past few weeks, I’ve been working to open some doors for a couple of our players to have an opportunity to be seen by some college coaches. As part of that process, I thought it would be a good opportunity to discuss and try to recognize and avoid some potential “hurdles” to success that players can often place before themselves without realizing it, especially when it comes to trying out for something.

Often, there is the player who sits down and establishes goals, but then falls short in making the kind of commitment and perseverance that is necessary to reach those goals. At the same time, there are other players that are very dedicated and committed, but haven’t sat down to establish the goals and lay out a map to reach the destination they desire.

Success in life (and in basketball) is sometimes luck, but more often than not success comes from having a plan and putting forth the commitment to turn that plan into success. However, if you aren’t careful, you’ll find yourself facing some of these self-imposed hurdles along the way.

HURDLE #1 – “I CAN’T”
The power inside each of us is incredible if we allow it to be released. I told the story in one of our previous newsletters of a small boy in Georgia with a kidney problem, which nearly killed him. He made a goal to become the strongest person in his class, and he dedicated himself to that goal. He was not tied down with “I can’t” even though the doctors told his parents he probably would not live past 12 years of age.

From there this young man, Paul Anderson, set a goal to become the strongest man in the state of Georgia and he accomplished this also. He now went on to become super heavyweight Olympic Gold Medal winner, set nine world records and became the strongest man in the history of the world.

Paul did not stop there, however, and in 1957 a miracle occurred. There is an event called the Back Lift, where the individual gets under the weight and lifts it off the ground. Since 1896, a French-Canadian had owned the back lift record of 4,300 pounds. Paul Anderson shattered that record, by lifting 6,270 pounds, over a ton!

Your life is a product of your thoughts. To alter your life the only single course is to alter your thinking.

HURDLE #2 – “AFRAID TO FAIL”
How many times do we not even attempt to accomplish something because we are afraid to fail. We just simply let the opportunity pass us by because of the fear of failing.

It is frightening to think what might have happened to history had one man been afraid to fail. I also mentioned this one of our previous newsletters. This man lost his job, had a business fall apart, his sweetheart died, and he suffered a nervous breakdown. His life in politics read all losses when he ran for the Legislature, House Speaker, Congress and Senate, and then as a nominee for Vice-President. Yet in 1860, that same man became our 16th President of the United States of America. After so many heartbreaks and defeats, Abraham Lincoln went on to change the course of history and our lives because he was not afraid to fail.
History provides us with numerous examples of highly successful people who were confronted with many major failures, but still made their dreams come true.

HURDLE #3 – “KNOW YOURSELF”
This hurdle can be deceiving because it is not set up the same as the previous two and is the most difficult hurdle that people (especially athletes) typically face. We face it every day that we live. If we don’t “know” ourselves, we can never be truly happy or find true success.

It is vital that you know your abilities...and just as importantly, you must also know your limitations.

Real confidence comes from knowing and accepting yourself, your strengths and your limitations, in contrast to depending on affirmation from others. The beginning of wisdom is being honest with yourself. The most noble and perfect victory is the triumph over oneself.

Thinkers down through the centuries have disagreed on almost everything. However, there is one point upon which they all agree, and that is people become what they think about. Hold on to the image of the life that you want and that image will become true.

Under no circumstances, lose hope. Hopelessness is the major cause of failure and despair. You can overcome any problem if you change your focus. When you change your focus, your life will change for the better.

Always try to do your best; never give up, and God will take care of everything else.
4:13