In the days of old athletes and individuals alike worked HARD for what they wanted and for what they got. Farmers worked and tilled the farms to eat, men and women CARRIED their groceries from the store back to home, students walked to and from school everyday, athletes pounded the weights and the track to earn their spot and win the job. Where did all these things go? What happened to the value of hard work and the understanding that without it (hard work) we cannot have the things we most desire.
America and New Jersey alike have become INSTANT gratification societies. We want what we want and we want it NOW. With this generation of young athletes this simply is just too true. If an athlete doesn’t make a team or doesn’t get the desired amount of playing time they complain and bad mouth the coach. Never taking responsibility for their own actions, never taking the extra steps such as hard work to achieve what they want instead they point the finger and find another place to play.
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Fortunately somewhere there are still a few athletes who have the intangible traits of discipline, integrity, and the willingness to work for what they want. However, they are the exception NOT the rule.
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These are the athletes that are up before school doing pushups and sit-ups in their bedrooms and the athletes that are the first ones at practice and the last ones to leave. The athletes that others look at and say are “crazy” and “obsessed” the athletes who simply can’t get enough. These are the athletes who will perform the best under pressure, the athletes who will take on leadership roles, and maybe most importantly the athletes that will excel in LIFE beyond the field.
Because, that’s truly what sports are, aren’t they? Life lessons, values, and beliefs instilled in us starting at a young age. If you’re a parent or a coach – take notice in the things we are instilling in young athletes and prepare them to succeed in SO MUCH MORE than sports. AND if you’re an athlete and truly want to be successful beyond your gifts BE the athlete everyone else calls CRAZY.
Dedicated to Your Success,
-CJ Appenzeller
