No truer words have been spoken. We all grew up with gifted people who possessed seemingly boundless amounts of talent in academia, athletics, good looks, charisma, money, personal and professional connectedness etc. When we compare ourselves to these “chosen ones” we feel inferior and sometimes cheated. We wonder in our quiet moments how we can compete against the odds stacked against us who do not possess these talents and advantages. It is here in the dark when we are all alone is where we develop and establish our plans of action and ultimate triumph.
There is a saying that I borrowed from my friend, Flex Lewis: “The Trophy is Earned in the Hours that No One is Watching.” I have this quote prominently posted in our kitchen and in my bedroom. Everywhere I go I am reminded that my “attitude” is everything. Being willing to “walk alone” is the secret to making headway toward winning. No One will do it for us.
When I was about 14 or 15 I was pretty fast. I would win at track in the 50 yard dash, 60 yard dash, and the 100 yard dash pretty regularly. However, as I approached varsity track I knew that I was overmatched by the lettermen ahed of me who were accomplished and much older. So, I decided to get faster. I spent countless nights after everybody had gone to bed sprinting in the alley behind my house. I covered 25-35 yards over and over again. Sometimes I would repeat the distance as many as 50 times at top speed before my body gave in to fatigue. I decided that my race was to be won in the first 35 yards. If I was ahead at that point I could kick it into overdrive to the finish line. I ended up on the varsity and had the privilege of running in some of the biggest track meets in the midwest. I think I still may have a couple records in my hometown. But, the point here is that I adjusted my “attitude” and retreated to a place alone to perfect my effort toward attaining “excellence” and it worked.
Though we are constantly pitted against people who are more talented than we are, we must develop the “attitude” that we will overcome them who have built in advantages by outworking them or out maneuvering them. My personal “attitude” for victory revolves around outworking my opponents. My Coach, Justin Dees is a real advocate for outworking the competition. He says I can’t just pick something that I like to do or something that is weak, I must work everything, all the time, right through the contest in front of me. My “attitude” and my effort have to be relentless and focused on the end game which is to win.
One last analogy. How many times have we played football, wrestled, baseball, track etc. and have had a teammate that just didn’t fit the mold or profile for the sport yet these odd ducks outworked and ultimately out performed the gifted athletes around him? All of us can easily think back over our careers and these undersized heroes come easily to mind. I would say that their examples have fueled all us. Their “attitudes” about competing and winning have driven us forward. We essentially adopted their “attitudes” and they have become our “attitudes.”
In closing. Our “attitude” trumps everything. In fact Excellence cannot be achieved by anything we bring into this world without a defining “attitude” of excellence that drives our supreme efforts to win.
Until next time I remain, Douglas E. Graham, Lt Col, USAF, (ret), MHSM
Six Pack and Senior 