What does working hard mean? Is working hard staying after practice to put up extra shots? Does working hard mean working out twice a day when you’re only required to work out once? Or maybe hard work is it diving on the floor for a loose ball?
All of these different actions are forms of working hard. The truth is hard work is a term that everyone defines differently. A definition that is typically used for hard work is taking yourself to the point of discomfort. That can be a point of discomfort physically, mentally, and/or emotionally. With that being said, it is important to learn how to be comfortable being uncomfortable. In other words, push past the point of discomfort for better gains and results.
Making the decision to work hard is a conscious choice. It’s easy to make an excuse to not work hard, but it’s important to dig deep within and find that drive to want to keep working. Professional basketball player Jeremy Lin experienced first-hand what working hard meant; he was stereotyped as a below average basketball player because he was Asian.1 The criticism from the people in the media didn’t let that stop him. Realistically, that negative energy and doubt only made him push harder. After hard training, Jeremy Lin had finally signed with the Golden State Warriors. He struggled to find his fit with the Warriors and was released. Lin continued to put in countless amounts of hours perfecting his craft. While bouncing from team to team, Lin had to sleep on his best friends couch do to income situations, but that only fueled the fire to continue working. He finally had his breakthrough when he signed a free agent contract with the New York Knicks and the rest is history. Lin’s story proved that commitment and consistency in work ethic will ultimately take you to the next level.2
With that being said, make working hard a habit because it puts you ahead of the competition and being ahead qualifies you for that starting roll you’ve always dreamed about.
1. Chen, Y. (2012). Jeremy Lin and the Power of Mind. Chinese American Forum. 28(1), 34-36
2. Marumoto, T. (2008). Off-Season Basketball Training. Coach & Athletic Director, 77(9), 52-53.
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ReplyDeleteThis is a lost art in sports. Before social media took the world by storm, we would spend countless hours playing sports outside until it was too dark to see. The ones that understand you must have a strong work ethic have long, productive careers. The others get left behind, fizzle out early, or are not prepared to succeed once a certain talent is taken away. There are countless stories of professional athletes that sacrificed so much time to work on their craft. I think the saying goes..."if it were easy, everybody would do it". Hopefully someone will read this, become inspired, and get to work!
ReplyDeleteThis is a great story because it reinforces what I say to my students all the time. I can teach you skill but cannot teach heart. So many talented athletes quit every year. Even in the gym, people stop once they leave their comfort zone. It would have been so easy for Lin to just pack and leave but he hung in -- all heart. Thank you for sharing. You are so right when you say so many are not PREPARED to succeed. This is a mindset and something too few possess.
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