Competence and Persistence

In recent weeks, I've talked about a variety of things that should lead to a successful athletic career. 

I talked about Dylan Jackson and work ethic.  I talked about playing a variety of sports as you grow up, avoiding early sports specialization.  I talked about picking your parents (and your gene pool).

More on all that later.

I recently visited a physical therapy practice in Atlanta for the purpose of helping them be more successful.  It is a young practice that is struggling to make ends meet, which isn't really that unusual.

I look back to 1981 when I started my own practice.   I can't recall exactly how long I worked before I drew my first paycheck but it was way too long.  I believe it was day 3 before I even saw my first patient (and although I don't remember his name, I do remember that he came in with a neck problem and was a notorious local bootlegger).

I remember when the Omnibus Reconciliation Act of 1990 was enacted, which made making a living in physical therapy a lot harder.  Our mantra was that "good work will sustain us" during tough times.  I think we stayed true to that.

Anyway, my final bits of advice to that young practice were that competence and persistence will lead to ultimate success in your physical therapy practice.

Competence and persistence are also key ingredients in athletic success. 

Competence.  In athletics, you've got to be able  to do the job.  You've got to have the basic skill set.  It means mastering the basics.  And then building from there.

In baseball or softball, you've got to be able to swing a bat effectively.  Few people that can't connect with the pitched ball are going to see the field.  And if you can't hit a curve ball, you're going to see lots and lots of curve balls.

You've got to be able to field a grounder.  And throw a ball effectively.  Maybe that's why it is still considered by many to be America's Game:  It is at its heart a simple, basic game.

In basketball, you've got be competent on offense or defense (preferably both) or you won't see the court.  In running, you've got to either be fast, able to sustain a good pace for a long time, or be able to jump over things while running pretty doggone fast.

In football-block, tackle, throw, catch, run...there's room for all types.  But the bottom line is that you must be competent in certain skills to be successful.

And there's persistence.  Throughout my growing up years, I kept a copy of Rudyard Kipling's "If--" on the wall of my room.  The message I got from that was to stay the course, to be true to your values, to be persistent.

Persistence implies the long term.  Persistence works harder and longer.  Persistence is still at it when all others have given up.