Your Average Joe

Write this one down:  The backbone of success is a solid work ethic.  In life, business, sports--you name it.

What is a "solid work ethic?"  A willingness to do the work.  All the time.  Someone with a solid work ethic is willing to keep going even when it is hard or it hurts and especially when they are tired. 

You sometimes can succeed on talent alone.  Some people are that good. 

I rehabbed a baseball pitcher several years ago that had that kind of talent.  He was recovering from surgery to his shoulder and had made it as high as AAA baseball. 

He had a golden arm and it had carried him to the brink of making The Big Show, Major League Baseball. 

He had never really had to work hard and most definitely did not know his way around the weight room. 

He was all arm.  The rest of his body was a mess.  Maybe the worst core strength I have seen on a professional athlete and that was probably a huge factor in his shoulder injury.

When that arm failed him, his entire professional career was in jeopardy.  It may be unnecessary to say but during the summer that he spent with me, he definitely learned his way around the weight room. 

Randall Cobb had that kind of talent.  I know of several other local football stars that might have had as much talent as Randall (maybe) but who didn't have his work ethic. 

After he finished a stellar career at Alcoa High School, Randall turned that work ethic and talent into a successful career at the University of Kentucky.  Then, when given the opportunity, when some might have doubted if he could make it or not, he turned it into a successful career with the NFL's Green Bay Packers.

Talent? For sure.  Solid work ethic?  Without a doubt. 

Brandon Waters remains one of the hardest working athletes that I have known.  His work ethic when he was a high school football player remains legendary.  He had talent but nobody had his work ethic. 

It carried him from state championships at Maryville High School to a solid career at Tennessee Tech.  I can think of no one better to train young athletes than Brandon and that's just what he's doing as an Assistant Football Coach and Head Strength Coach at his alma mater.

At 6'6" and 255 chiseled pounds, Dylan Jackson is the whole package. I would offer him a football scholarship just looking at him.  Throw in speed, quickness, and athleticism and you can see why schools like UT and Alabama want him on their football team. 

At this point, it would be easy for him just to coast through this year.    But that's not for Dylan.  He's working hard every day.  Coach Quarles told me that just last week, he arrived at school early only to find Dylan already there, already hard at work. I predict his work ethic will carry him far.

But you don't have to be that big or that fast to be successful.  There are a lot more kids out there that are average size and merely decent athletes that will have really great sports careers.  I would suggest that for them, it is also all about the work ethic. 

And like I said, that work ethic can serve you well not just in sports but in life and relationships and business.  Trust me...a solid work ethic can carry the average Joe a long way.