Are You Results Driven?

I have referred many times to the differences of successful and unsuccessful people in my journals. Today I want to discuss with you a bit more about the results or lack there of in regards to being successful or unsuccessful in the process. This morning, as I always do, I was doing my Discovery Series with Life Path online and realized another moment of truth if you will. I can recall 19 years ago when I was a senior in high school and had a very large dream of “making it big” in Baseball. I had all these goals and expectations for myself and the team, even back when I didn’t realize the importance of goal setting and putting them on paper to make them real. I was young and naive but aside from that I had some unfinished business to take of. I lived in small New England town in central Connecticut, not really the greatest place to practice baseball with all the snow and in climate weather. That was okay because it did not stop me from working my tail off in garages with heaters and weight lifting to build strength. At the time I didn’t know any better, I just wanted results in my upcoming season and didn’t look at anything else. I had a mission and was going to work and practice as hard as anyone to accomplish my goals.

Without getting entirely too specific, I had goals for batting average, hits, homeruns as well as other personal and team goals. As the season progressed, I had some good games and some bad ones. I can recall that throughout the season I was often disappointed with my overall play and began to really put the heat on myself. I never gave up, but was very hard on myself. No one could ever challenge my effort or passion for the game and in the desire I always set forth. Letting the truth be told, I did not reach the majority of the goals I set forth at the beginning of the season, but can recall a couple significant games in which I played a big part in our teams success. We did go on as a team to win the State Championship and I also earned First Team All-State honors for my overall play throughout the season. This is where my story creates a message to all. It took me almost 19 years to realize that, though I did not personally accomplish the majority of the goals I set forth for my senior season, it was a successful season.

I can remember where I was when I learned the news of earning first team all-state and feeling like I didn’t deserve it. “How could I deserve this honor when I did not attain hardly any of the goals I put down on paper?” I figured, “Sure, I had a few great games, but I don’t deserve all-state honors.” Many years have passed and now I can tell you and myself, “I did deserve what I got, period!” I put in some overtime in getting ready for that season, and though my stats at the end of the year may have painted a more solemn picture than intended, I got what I deserved. Obviously many of the area coaches saw beyond the final stats, and recognized the talent.

So in final, I want to be sure that we all got the message today. Always remember that we need to work hard and diligent for whatever we want in life and regardless of the initial results, success will follow. This could never be truer. We need to stop looking and dwelling over the “immediate” results we see in our life but continue to work hard with small, consistent actions over time so that we can achieve “quantum leap results” in our life.
Now got out and Make it the Best Day Ever!!!