“If you put the work in, the results will come.” That is my favorite quote, from none other than Michael Jordan, arguably one of the greatest athletes ever to grace the earth. The idea behind these words can be applied to so many endeavors.
As a professional athlete, if you do it right—if you “put the work in”—it never ends. Every aspect of your life—and all of your minute, everyday decisions—are influenced by, and influence, what you are trying to accomplish. The human body and mind can be molded into a finely tuned machine, but it doesn’t happen casually. It only happens with intent and calculation, and the full participation of mind and spirit.
At the professional level, your genetic gifts are the standard, no longer the exception. Wins and losses come down to a split-second mistake—mental, physical, or emotional. The team or player that gives the performance closest to perfect—wins.
Here are some of my reflections on being a pro volleyball player.
Mentally: you make preparation a routine, strategy a habit. Prepare for all playing conditions, varying levels of available resources, worst-case scenario backup plans. Strategize to maximize your strengths and exploit your opponent’s vulnerabilities. When you put the mental work in, the results are adaptability, clarity, focus, and intention.
Physically: it takes extreme and prolonged discipline. You don’t ask yourself if you “feel like it” anymore. You just do it. And you’ll find that what you can do is amazing. You will hit both mental and physical “walls” of fatigue. You may feel like quitting. But you don’t. From some secret energy reserve hidden in your core, you keep going, you gain, and you grow. When you put the physical work in, the results are potent energy, enduring stamina, rapid recovery, and precise cooperation between body and mind.
Emotionally: it’s important to manage whatever stress you can control. Competition tests your self-esteem, your pride, your passion for the sport. You must be at your strongest emotionally, to give your best performance physically. If you are emotionally fragile, both wins and losses become hazardous. When you put the emotional work in, the results are personal power, stress resistance, channeled passion, and practical optimism.
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Physical, mental and emotional ... the three biorhythm benchmarks! Yea, I was playing Cale once in 1-on-1 basketball, when he was at the age where he could sometimes take me. Time slowed down, I was in the "zone", baby. Swish! Spin, kiss it off the glass, lefty ... oh, my. I had to cry. That might have been the last time I beat my boy. Sweet. Remember Bishop Feehan? You were there. The zone. Love, Dad
Whoa. Awesome.
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