Photo by Dave Dugdale, courtesy of Flickr Creative Commons
There are billions of stars in the sky and what makes them all shine is what is on the inside of them. Playing sports for most of my life taught me so many valuable lessons that helped me in so many ways.
One thing I have learned is that having all the right attributes and skills might get you in the door, but they won’t keep you in the room. It is so important to take the time to work on what’s inside of you, because it’s what’s inside of you that will help you achieve true success.
Your talent can only take you so far in life, but it is what is on the inside of you that will keep you grounded and take you to a whole new level. Yes, we are supposed to stand out from the crowd and be a reflection of God, but in order to be successful and stay successful, we must first work on those inner qualities like humility, character, integrity, honoring others, and determination that will help us reach our full potential.
Society tells you that you need to look a certain way and so much is based on appearance. Such as, if you look perfect, then you will get your dream job or fit in with the cool kids. Or if you dress the part, then you get the part and on and on. However, what’s inside of you is what determines your longevity and success. Yes, I believe the way you present yourself is very important but I also strongly believe your outer beauty must be supported by inner beauty and strength. In my own experience in the NFL, I was technically not supposed to make it because it looked as though I was too small, not fast enough, or not strong enough. I believe it is the intangible qualities I took time to develop that allowed me to make it despite the odds against me. If someone measured my heart, focus, and perseverance than they would realize that it was a lot bigger than 5’6. As the saying goes, talent will take you there, but character is what will keep you there.
Make the stars take notice of you by shining brighter!