I love football. I grew up in a small town just outside of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania home of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Now living in Utah when someone asks me, “Are you a Steelers fan?” I respond with “it’s our religion, you have the Mormons we have the Steelers (smiling)”. You can make a lot of comparisons between success and football. This years’ Super Bowl gives you some great success strategies you can use in your life today.
This 2017 Super Bowl was one for the books; one of the greatest comebacks in football history. If you watched the game, then you know. The New England Patriots were at a 28-3 deficit in the second half. The Atlanta Falcons were on fire and taking it to them. I said the game was over when the Patriots kicker missed the extra point after their first touchdown, almost at the end of the third quarter. I thought their goose was cooked and Atlanta was going to take the game. New England had a different plan.
The Patriots came back to force overtime and a win. It was the first overtime win in Super Bowl history with 31 unanswered points. It was very impressive. It’s hard to dislike them after that kind of season and game. It was incredible.
The leader of that comeback was Tom Brady, winning his fifth Super Bowl as the Patriots quarterback. He will go down as one of the best of all time. I am sure most people don’t really know his story. I always thought he was some golden boy with a magic arm. That is not the case.
Tom Brady learned at an early age that he could not rely on only pure talent, he believed that he could out work anyone though. He was picked 199th in the NFL draft at the 6th round. That means that every team passed on him five times. He started as the fourth string quarterback for the Patriots. He worked his way up to second string with a stringent work ethic. When Drew Bledsoe got injured he was in. Every Patriots fan thought they were doomed, but if they only knew!
I respect Tom Brady because he has achieved the level he is at not because of natural talents, although he definitely has those, it was his belief, willpower and work ethic that got him to where he is. You can’t deny he is one of the best. If you work harder than most, then you will be better than most.
He has proven that hard work and dedication pays off. It is no wonder why when he was down so far in the game, he didn’t give up. He chose to win. In life, as it was in that football game, it is not how you start, but how you finish.
Vince Lombardi the famous coach said:
“We didn’t lose the game; we just ran out of time.”
This means it doesn’t matter where you are right now in life, what screw-ups you have had, or how far away your goals seem. If you decide with all your passion that you will achieve your goals no matter what, then you can’t fail. Persistence, hard work, and belief in yourself are the keys to success. Get off the bench, play hard, and remember to never give up!
Chris Lengle Productions 