Keep Running and Don’t Drop The Ball
In high school, I tried out for the football team. Well…actually, I never got past the first day of conditioning. Ok…the first thirty minutes of conditioning. I didn’t even know what conditioning was until I got out on the field.
You see, I wanted to play football based on the stories my dad told me about his glory days in high school. He was a star player. And being such a superstar on the field took alot of behind-the-scenes work. But as I walked out on the field in my purple outfit (hey…it was the 90s), I had no idea what I was getting into.
And yes…I lasted 30 minutes. And in that time, I saw my life flash before my eyes. Whenmy mom came back to pick me up, she said that my skin looked grey. That night when we picked my dad up from work, he asked me how things went. I told him “I quit.” After laughing at me, he said that he knew I wasn’t going to last. To avoid getting offended, I asked him “how is that?” To which he responded, “because you don’t love the game.” He was right. I liked to watch football, but would never be a James Harrison. I hope to someday sign a $51 million dollar deal…but it won’t be to play for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Just like any other form of practice, conditioning or discipline, football practice was grueling work. So is running with your vision. Or starting a business. Any form of entrepreneurship, if you’re not used to it, will drive you crazy. It takes commitment to put in sixteen to twenty hour days to get a business venture off of the ground. You’re either committed, called or crazy. And sometimes, it can feel like all three at once.
Just like in football, you have to keep running. And make sure not to drop the ball. When you get tired of running with the ball, don’t stop. Pass it to someone else who’s wide open. When you start a new venture, get the ball rolling. Then find someone else who can keep it going – keep it rolling. Your vision will grow incrementally when people join your mission. But it grows exponentially when groups join your mission.
Whether you’re a visionary leader, small business owner or a person who wants to start a new career, hold on to your vision. And when the time is right, pass the ball to the right person who can continue running.
If you enjoyed this article, check out two of my other articles:
- Lebron! 6 Things Every Young Entrepreneur Can Learn from ‘King James’
- You Got Game?
- Looking For A Promotion On Your Job? Catch the Vision and Run
Picture courtesy of http://allmusclebuilding.com/category/free-weights/
Thomas thanks for sharing. I really enjoyed the message. This writing says a lot about life itself.