“If you quit __________ now, you’ll always be a quitter” – AnyDad or AnyMom, USA
Are you one of the millions of human beings that’s ever heard that one? If so, there’s a modicum of truth to it. If you’re a college football fan, you saw what happens when you DON’T quit.
The other night I watched my son’s college’s football team, The Ohio State Buckeyes put a vengeance beating on Virginia Tech, the only team to beat them during their 2014-2015 run to the college football championship. If you’re not a college football fan, you’ve probably missed the back story.
In August 2014, OSU quarterback Braxton Miller suffered a shoulder injury that kept him off the field for the entire year. Bad news since Miller was a Heisman Trophy hopeful, defending two-time Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year and the key to OSU getting back into contention. Enter J.T. Barrett, the second stringer. Not only did he fill the position, he rocked it! OSU went unbeaten save for the loss to Virginia Tech. Ready to enter the inaugural football playoffs, disaster struck. Barrett went down with a season-ending injury. Next up, third stringer Cardell Jones. Jones simply led the Buckeyes to the title in overwhelming fashion.
So now to 2015. All three quarterbacks are healthy. Miller was an afterthought. The battle would be between Barrett and Jones. Feel bad for Miller? Don’t.
Miller saw his future and decided to chart his own course, opting to try out for H-Back. All he did was excel in the home opening catching a touchdown pass and running for another. He could have sulked. He could have transferred. He chose to adapt and excel.
We live in a nation of whiners and victims. People who don’t have wealth, opportunity, or good breaks blame the system, the wealthy, politics, etc.
If that’s you, here’s the sad reality: Nobody cares. Nobody is listening. Yes, the politicians are listening. And they’ll be there for you…until they get elected. Then you’ll be on your own again.
We are however inspired by those who look at the stacked odds and put together a plan to adapt in spite of them. The interesting thought here is that never in history has there been more opportunity to personally or professionally excel.
I graduated fourth from the bottom of my high school class and joined the Navy as an enlisted monkey doing chairside dental assisting. I whined. I complained. I blamed. Then I realized that nobody cared nor were they listening. Since I DID care, I got busy going to college at night and on weekends. Sure there were setbacks but the perseverance paid off. Today I own a successful consulting company.
If you’re reading this today, there is a good chance you’re in a civilized democracy that affords every opportunity to excel. We’re reading about the Syrian refugees flooding Europe now looking for opportunity. I’m sure they’d give ANYTHING to relocate here. The USA is truly the land of opportunity. If you’re here, you have a huge advantage! Quit whining and get busy!
- If you’re doing nothing, get a plan together to do something!
- If you’ve been wronged or screwed over, get over it and move on!
- If you’re blaming everyone for your problems, quit depending on them to feel sorry for you and fend for yourself!
- If you’re about to be forgotten like Braxton Miller was, adapt and find a new course.
No more excuses, just focused action.
