MESSAGE #1631 THE SECRET TO JEREMY LIN’S SUCCESS
By now, nearly everyone on the planet has heard about Jeremy Lin of the New York Knicks and “Lin-sanity.” If for some reason, you have been living under a rock for the past few weeks, let me recap for you.
After getting cut from the Golden State Warriors, Houston Rockets, and nearly the New York Knicks, Jeremy Lin came off the bench for the Knicks on February 4th and scored 25 points against the New Jersey Nets. He then scored 28 points versus the Utah Jazz, 23 points over the Washington Wizards, 38 points over Kobe Bryant (34 points) and the Los Angeles Lakers and 20 points against the Minnesota Timberwolves. He was named Player of the Week and the floundering Knicks went undefeated with Lin in the starting lineup. And the sports world exploded. What makes the Asian-American Harvard grad from California so special?
Here are my top five keys to Jeremy Lin’s success:
1. He’s a team player. In a league dominated by superstar players who often are like a one-man show, Lin does what most great athletes do…he makes the rest of the team better.
2. He is isn’t affected by external factors. With all the hype and media attention he is getting, Lin still seems down-to-earth and composed regardless of what is going on around him.
3. He goes all-out. One of Jeremy Lin’s goals for every game is to give a full effort. Gandhi said, “Full effort is full victory.”
4. He has faith. In post-game interviews, Lin often thanks God for all that has happened to him. Whether you are religious or spiritual, having faith helps you trust your abilities and focus on the process, not the outcome.
5. He has fun. You can see by how he plays the game that Jeremy Lin loves what he does. Hard work and passion go a long way.
Here are a couple of my favorite Jeremy Lin quotes:
“I’m not playing for other people; if I start thinking in those terms I would put too much pressure on myself. I play basketball because that is what I love to do.”
“I’m not playing to prove anything to anybody.”
How far will Jeremy Lin go in his basketball career? Nobody knows, but one thing is for sure. If he stays healthy and keeps living by these principles, the sky is the limit.
MESSAGE #1630 PERSISTENCE
Recently, I was watching the press conference for Yankee catcher, Jorge Posada’s retirement from baseball. As Jorge spoke, reflected on his career and answered questions from the media, I couldn’t help but think about a story I once heard about the young Posada in Puerto Rico.
When Jorge was just starting out in baseball, Jorge Sr. insisted that Jorge become a switch-hitter, but Jorge hated batting left-handed.
“He cried and he cried, and he cried, because in the game he would strike out, and strike out, and strike out,” his father said.
In fact, in his first 17 left-handed at-bats, the young Jorge struck out each time.
Then, in his 18th at-bat Jorge hit a home run. After he rounded the bases, the proud young Jorge said, “Oh father, thank you. Thank you, father.”
The greatest athletes in the world know that persistence pays off.
Are you willing to put off what you want now for what you want most?
MESSAGE #1629 ALL YOU NEED…
Poor people have a big TV. Rich people have a big library. Enlightened people know that all you need is already inside you.
MESSAGE #1627
Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.
-Martin Luther King, Jr
Negative thoughts cannot drive out negative thoughts; only positive thoughts can do that.
MESSAGE #1626 I’LL BE BACK!
Thank you for all of your concern, but I am well and good! I have not posted lately because I am in the process of creating a new program and philosophy. Rest assured I will be back very soon and better than ever! Until then, enjoy the video below by the Beatles, but REALLY listen to the words. -E
MESSAGE #1625
Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.
-Arthur Ashe
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