Thursday; September 26

Spending as much time as I have in Texas I think it is a requirement to be a Nolan Ryan fan.  Throughout the years, I have been fascinated by Ryan’s ability on the baseball field so I recently purchased one of his biographies that gave me more of an insight into what made him a Hall of Fame pitcher.  What were some of the qualities that lead to his success – and how can they be translated into lessons for us?  Let’s take a look:

1.  Talent.  The first thing that stands out with Ryan is his natural ability – he could throw the baseball hard and he could throw it hard for a long period of time.  Success begins with ability.  What talent have we been given that makes us “world-class”?  Let’s remember that not everyone has the same talent, so let’s find out what makes us special (even if it appears to be unique).

2.  Hard Work.  Nolan had a strong right arm, but it was his training regiment that kept him in the game for decades.  He worked hard and he worked out even harder.  Natural ability allows us a place to start, but the thing that makes great finishers is strengthening and fine-tuning our gift so that it can become better and last longer.

3.  Commitment.  Nolan Ryan was not an immediate success story.  He was a wild pitcher who played for a lot of really bad teams.  He had to play through injury, pain, disappointment and criticism.  There were times when he was tempted to give up on a game (and even his career), but he kept going back out there.  Being gifted and working hard provides a solid foundation, but success is only reserved for those who are willing to endure hardships and overcome disappointments. 

          No, we will not all be as rich, well-known or influential as Nolan Ryan, but we can all be successful in our own lives.  Are we willing to make the investment?

         Think About It!