Passion makes good things happen
By Jeff Herring
Knight Ridder News Service
You may have heard this story, but it's worth repeating.
Advertiser library photo • April 16, 2003
This kid comes home from school one day, slams his books down on the table, runs upstairs, and slams the door. It's his 10th-grade year. His mother comes in and says, "Son, what's wrong?" He says, "I got cut ... I didn't make the team ... they said I was too small."
Michael Jordan's success on the basketball court and elsewhere is an example of what powerful determination can bring.
With incredible wisdom, the mother says, "Son, it's not the size of the person in the game, it's the size of the game in the person." And leaves.
It clicks. In a huge way. Like nothing had before.
The next morning, he gets up at 4:30 and starts practicing. He keeps it up every morning, every evening, every day, every week, every month, relentless, nonstop.
His fight had been ignited, and he would not be denied. Through snow, rain, sleet, ice, wind and hail. He keeps practicing, giving up movies and other favorite pastimes.
The fight keeps getting bigger. And bigger. And bigger.
The next year he makes the team.
His name? Michael Jordan.
What in your life inspires that kind of passion? What are you that hungry for? What's the size of your game?
People approach the things they want to change in one of three ways: 1) I want to want to, 2) I want to, 3) I must.
• I want to want to: These people give some kind of intellectual assent to the notion of change. It looks like "Yeah, that's something I should do" or "It sure would be nice if." Don't count on any change here.
• I want to: This is a little bit better, but not much. Here you will find a lot of lip service about change.
• I must: Things happen here. Actions are taken and progress is made. The state of "I must" means change must happen no matter what.
To what in your life can you bring that same kind of passionate commitment? How big is your game? How big would you like it to be? Could it be your marriage, your family, your job, even a hobby?
Next question. What are you waiting for? The answer is, nothing of any significance.
