In sports and in life, you gotta want it. Think, the ball player on the sideline who is standing right behind the coach telling him, “Put me in coach, I can do it” This is the player you want on your team. The dud that is sitting on the bench looking at his girlfriend or studying his shoelaces is not the one you want to put in the game.
I was watching a game the other day, and you could tell the ones that wanted in the game and the ones that were happy to sit it out. That’s how it is in sports, business and life. John Grisham was rejected by 28 publishers for his first novel. Abe Lincoln lost 7 elections before it made him mad enough to run for president. Aren’t we glad he didn’t give up on seven? Steve Jobs was turned down 27 times for his computer idea. These types of stories could go on for pages.
I had a friend I played softball with one time and when he swung at the ball, he almost came out of his shoes. I am saying he wanted it so badly he gave it everything he had every single time. Talk about any team, any sport and any field and just look into the eyes and you can see the ones that want it from the young kids to the pros.
One of the biggest lessons I ever learned in life was when I was on the wrestling team in the 8th grade. I was 126 lb. class and the guy on my team I had to wrestle every week (and lost) was a year older and the state champion in the 126 lb. class. I knew I couldn’t beat him, so I quit trying. I never quite forgave myself for that, so I overcompensated in high school with football, track etc. and I gave it everything I had. That lesson stayed with me in business through some ups and downs and when hotel brokerage came along, I didn’t leave anything on the table.
That term ‘don’t leave anything on the table’ is a term coaches often use which means, to give it all you have. Don’t hold back or leave anything in the bag. Be all in 100%. That is the way I was when I got one 6-month opportunity to sell hotels. I knew it was the only shot I was going to get. As in sports – I wanted the ball, and I wanted in the game and by God, I stretched it out like a greyhound dog and won the rookie of the year for the US that year and never looked back.
In life, business, relationships etc. you gotta want the ball. You gotta want in the game and you have to swing with everything you have within you. Paul in the bible speaks of this when he says in 1st Corinthians 9:24; “run the race so that you may obtain the prize.” KT