Commitment is a key to success whether it's in professional growth, personal life or the sports world.

 

If you’re a sports fan, you will remember Larry Bird, considered one of the best basketball players in college (Indiana State University) and in the NBA (Boston Celtics). You may also recall Bird as one of the members of the Dream Team, which won the Gold Medal in 1992. A little-known fact is that he is the only person in NBA history to be named College Player of the Year, NBA MVP, NBA Coach of the Year, and NBA Executive of the Year. Amazing results for a poor boy from French Lick, IN.  

 

What made Larry Bird one of the best players in basketball? He was considered slow, and many thought he could not jump. Sometimes it almost looked like he was playing in slow motion. But Larry Bird succeeded as a player because he was totally dedicated to success. He practiced more, played harder, and had more mental toughness than most of his competitors. He got more out of his talents than almost anyone.

 

The same was true with Tom Watson, the PGA golfer (now playing mostly on the Seniors Tour), who has been named one of the all-time greatest links players. (I was one of the lucky people watching on the side lines when he won his first professional tournament at the 1974 Western Open coming from six strokes back to win on the final round.) Tom was nothing special at Stanford University, considered just another kid on the team. But his coach still talks about him, saying, "I never saw anyone practice more."

 

The difference in physical skills between athletes doesn't tell the whole story. It's the quality of their commitment that separates the good players from the great ones. People who are committed to success are willing to do whatever it takes, as long as it doesn't harm anyone else. Everything they do, whether on or off the field, reflects their commitment.

 

Ask yourself the following questions and think about your answers: "How strong is your commitment: to your career; to your relationships; to your personal growth? How much of your time and energy do you give these things? Do the results you get reflect your level of commitment?"

 

How you feel about your answers may be speak volumes. In the final analysis, it speaks to your personal level of commitment to success.  If you don’t like the result, change the answers to your questions. After all, it is up to you.