| It was a beautiful Fall morning in Michigan. If you're from | | | | In the past, I could relate most to this type of player. I |
| the Midwest or Northeast, you know what I am talking | | | | knew what to do to succeed. I had the ability. And, I |
| about. There is a crispness in the air, and the leaves | | | | had the passion...most of the time, unless the going got |
| are beginning to change into their brilliant colors. | | | | really hard. Then, my passion seemed to wane. I |
| I was watching my six year old son's soccer | | | | seemed all too willing to give up and go after a new |
| game....my favorite Fall activity! My son's team was | | | | "dream", thus never achieving my goals. |
| undefeated so far this season. In fact, the teams he | | | | When my son came out after the second quarter, I |
| has played on over the last three years have never | | | | pulled him aside to give him the requisite pep talk. I told |
| lost a game. | | | | him he definitely wasn't playing his best and wasn't |
| My son was not among the players that went in the | | | | being his usual aggressive self. More importantly |
| first quarter. The opposing team proved to be a | | | | though, I told him he was entitled to that ball as much |
| worthy opponent as the balled was kicked back and | | | | as anyone else and to go after the ball like he owned |
| forth down the field with no goals scored by either | | | | it. |
| team. | | | | He seemed to rally in the 3rd quarter. In fact, he |
| I thought for sure our team would pull ahead in the | | | | scored two goals. With goals scored by his other |
| next quarter as some of the stronger members of the | | | | team members during that quarter, his team passed |
| team would be in that group. To my dismay, our team | | | | the other team by. |
| (my son among them) played very poorly in the | | | | Just to tell you a little more about my son...yes, he |
| second quarter. They seemed to be almost | | | | possesses the ability and the know-how for the game. |
| sleep-walking...playing with absolutely no passion. | | | | However, he is also the smallest and youngest player |
| Since my son usually gave soccer his all, I was a little | | | | on the team which could certainly put him at a |
| disappointed in his efforts. Yes, I am a competitive | | | | disadvantage...yet it rarely does. When he is on the |
| soccer mom! We were down two points at the end | | | | field, he is filled with passion and enthusiasm. It is simply |
| of this quarter. I wondered if this would be my son's | | | | a sight to see! |
| first experience with defeat. | | | | He is a player number three. He is aggressive. He |
| While I was watching his game and all the players, life | | | | won't back down to players that are almost twice as |
| suddenly made sense. You see I often struggled with | | | | big as him. He gets up when he falls down. He stays |
| how to achieve the success I so desperately desired. | | | | with that ball as long as he possibly he can. When he |
| Now I could see why people get ahead in business, in | | | | kicks the ball, he visualizes where he wants the ball to |
| relationships, in sports...in life, and why some get left | | | | go and has a plan for it. |
| behind, and why some get seriously defeated in the | | | | Every goal scored for his team is a celebration. And, |
| game of life. It seemed so obvious as I watched the | | | | every goal scored against his team is an opportunity to |
| game unfold. | | | | learn. He utilizes his team to achieve his goals and |
| There were three types of players that day as there | | | | knows when to pass off to other players for the |
| are in life. The first type of player is the one that | | | | better of the team (or at least as well as any 6-year |
| doesn't even bother to try. Whether they lack passion | | | | old can.) He knows that he has the same right to that |
| for what they are doing, don't believe in their own | | | | ball as everyone else. |
| abilities or are too weighed down by fear and their | | | | His team won 6-2 that day. What I thought could be |
| own sense of inadequacy, they never really join the | | | | his first taste of defeat was instead a wonderful |
| game. | | | | eye-opening experiencing for me. I now know that to |
| This player might be out there going through the | | | | be successful, I must be a player number three. I need |
| motions, pretending to play, but they are not really | | | | to stick with my goals with a vengeance even when |
| engaged in the sport physically, mentally or emotionally. | | | | things get tough, or I feel like the smallest person in the |
| This is the player who only kicks the ball when it is right | | | | world. |
| in front of their feet. They don't have a vision or a plan | | | | Like my son's game exemplified, sometimes when |
| for where the ball will go once they attempt to kick. | | | | things are really tough, victory is just a little extra effort |
| And, they never bother to follow it up or chase it | | | | away. I now understand that I must visualize where I |
| down. | | | | want to go and have a plan. And, when I experience |
| A beautiful little girl on my son's team exemplified the | | | | success, I must celebrate! And, of course use my |
| second type of player. She was fast. She was strong. | | | | defeats to learn. |
| She clearly possessed the ability. You could even see | | | | I must play the game with the same amount of |
| a glimmer of passion in her from time to time. Yet, she | | | | passion and tenacity that my son plays with on the |
| always seemed to run next to the ball. She would | | | | field. I know now that I have the same right to success |
| follow the opposition all the way down the field but | | | | as everyone else. That ball is mine! And, that ball can |
| never really give it that extra push to attempt to steal | | | | be yours. |
| the ball away from the opposition or score a goal. | | | | |