The great ones control what they can control — we can all control how hard we work.
"I've had smarter people around me all my life, but haven't run into one yet that can outwork me. And if they can't outwork you, then smarts aren't going to do them much good. That's just the way it is. And if you believe that and live by it, you'd be surprised at how much you can have." –Woody Hayes
The problem for us all is we see someone doing something great and they make it look easy so we assume it is easy to do or at least easy for them. We don’t realize how hard they have worked to master something. Michael Jordan (great player ever)...Shaquille O’Neal (one of the most dominating post players ever) — both got cut in high school...resilient but extremely hard working.
“If you think you are working hard, you can work harder. If you think you are doing enough, there is more that you can do. No one really ever exhausts his full potential.” –Pete Carril
Examples:
Magic Johnson...Dick Vitale (than coach at University of Detroit) thought he’s surprised and impress Magic Johnson by showing up at 6:30 AM at his Michigan home one winter. With chilling, windy, snowy weather on the ground Vitale knocked on the door. Magic’s mom answers and told him that Magic had already left. He goes to the outdoor court every morning and shoots before the bus comes. http://bit.ly/4C98ZH
Chris Paul...started his off-season workouts at 4:21 AM when he was with the Hornets http://bit.ly/m59wXN
Chris Jackson...game-like shooting immediately following a night game at LSU because he was upset he missed 3 similar shots.
Larry Bird..."I used to shoot a lot of free throws. I wouldn't leave until I made a hundred in a row." (86.7% career FT shooter...lead NBA 4 times...10th all-time).
Seimone Augustus...McKinnley HS...Rec Center
Derrick Rose...700 jumpers a day in the off-season http://bit.ly/Kgj42z
Shaquille talking about how hard Kobe Bryant worked at practice...first one there, last one to leave...every drill at game speed — even drills on his own...always carried a compact DVD player...watched video walking down the hall or while getting taped.
Sylvia Fowles hiring a post coach and paying his way to come and stay in Russia to workout her out during her season in Russia.
LeBron James has his own personal shooting coach...paid his way to Beijing, China during the 2008 Olympics so he could work on his shooting for an hour in the afternoon after team USA practiced...spent last summer with Hakeem Olajuwon working on low post game.
Michael Jordan:
Hired his own strength and conditioning coach...built an amazing weight room in his home...hired a chef to create ultimate training meals.
Baseball: first one to the park and last one to leave — hitting instructor at the end of the day would say we’re done. MJ: “Can we do a little more.” http://bit.ly/KBnMhg
Coming out of retirement, first practice back, practice ended and the team broke from half-court to the locker room. Michael walked to the end line and started running wind sprints — team came back and joined him!
After 5th championship he was asked why his he still playing — “I think I can get better.”
