Some of the most frustrating things a coach can hear are " I can't", "I'm not good enough", "that could never be me", "I could never do that", "typical of me", "hope I don't choke again", and on, and on.
This week, I received a couple amazing success stories from a couple people who I've had the honor of coaching in the sport of Weightlifting.
I had breakfast this week with a former lifter who a year or so ago left his corporate job in order to try to do what he really wanted to do in life. This was a very huge and difficult decision, especially with a wife and 2 young kids. A tough place that I am very familiar with, having done the same thing in 2012.
We talked a bit during this period, going through the ups and downs and second guessing the decision, but he truly believed he had something unique to offer the world of baseball. He pounded the pavement, moved on each time he was told no, and never gave up. He believed in himself, and continued to try.
Last week, all his hard work and effort paid off. He was offered a job with the NEW YORK YANKEES organization, and will be meeting up with the team for spring training next month in a role created specifically for what he brings to the table.
2nd story this week:
Another former lifter reached out with news that she would be interviewing for a Strength & Conditioning position at a college here in NC. This is the thing that she has always wanted to do. She has done nothing but work for this opportunity as long as I have known her. She has been told no. She has been turned down and told she wasn't qualified enough. She has had to take lateral positions, moving far from home, away from friends and family, to gain experience. She never gave up, she kept working, learning, growing.
This week, all her hard work as paid off. She will now be the Director of Athletic Performance at UNC Pembroke, responsible for the Strength & Conditioning and Nutrition for all the athletes of 16 different sports!
These 2 people CREATED these opportunities for themselves. They did not wait for someone to make it happen for them. They did not listen when someone said they did not have enough to offer, or were not qualified enough. They did not sit around and hope that good things would happen. They said, "this is what I want to do, and I am going to figure out a way to make it happen". Then they worked their asses off to make it happen.
Were they nervous, were they scared when things did not seem to be working out? Yes. Are they now more nervous, more scared? Yes. But now they have their opportunity to really shine. They now have the chance to live out their dreams. Andy they did it because they believed they could.
So, why not you?