Dad had always ingrained the idea of setting multiple
smaller goals in life to lead to a bigger, more challenging goal. He commonly referred to the great coach,
John Wooden by saying, ‘success is a journey, not a destination.’ However, the
most important aspect to each of the goals was the fuel behind the goals. Many people are competitive by nature, but
those who have the fuel or the urging desire to reach their goals will be
hurdling them at a faster rate. The fuel
for your desire to succeed can be one single thing or event, or it can be ever
changing as your life evolves and morphs.
During my lifetime, I know dad’s passion to succeed each day was his
faith and family. He took both very
seriously by his actions. Dad was very devoted
to the church in more ways than I ever knew.
He also never ever missed sporting events, birthday parties, or random
concerts that Lindsay or I was involved in throughout our lives. Dad never vocalized his fuel, he simply lived
his live by these rules and/or values.
I first
recall Dad lecturing me on understanding the importance of fueling your fire
when I was about a month into my 10th grade year of school. The reason he brought the subject up was
because he knew I did not take my schooling very serious but I loved to play
sports. He put it like this…. “Andrew,
you plan on playing basketball at the collegiate level correct?” I responded
yes. “Well your grades will determine
what schools you can get into to play and if you can’t learn how to discipline
yourself in the classroom, how will you ever be able to discipline yourself in
life?” Of course that was a shock to me
at the time and maybe did not completely set in. He followed up by saying, “Andrew, at the end
of each day look yourself in the mirror and ask yourself did you do your
best? If you did, awesome; if you did
not ask yourself why and learn from it.”
After he had challenged me with the mirror test, he told me what would
come of the application of the process.
He talked about building a “brand” or “character” by continuously
practicing the mirror test. “People want
to surround themselves with successful people and if you are willing to give it
your best every day, people will recognize and want to be around you.” He was so right. Little did I know that those conversations
would never be forgotten and forever cherished.
Now I find myself continuously challenging myself to be great each and
every day because he is the fuel to my fire.
I desire to be great just like dad.
