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"Today, players receive the rewards before they prove their worth, if you look around, you'll see that it happens in a lot of places, not just sports."
- Michael Jordan
Michael Jordan was asked years ago if there would be another Michael Jordan. He said yes, but it would be harder. He said that it would be harder because players are given a lot before they have proven themselves. Today, players can be known around the world while still in high school.
Jordan said that he always wanted to prove what he could do, and even though he was the 3rd pick in the NBA draft, the established players like Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, and Dr. J were the clear stars.
When my play started providing me with rewards, then I wanted to prove I deserved them. I never felt the desire to rest on what I had accomplished. I never felt like I deserved to drive a Bentley when I got my first contract, or live in a mansion. Those things might be symbols of success, but a lot of people confuse symbols with actual success.
Great leaders lead by example. You can't demand respect because of a title or a position and expect people to follow. That might work for a little while, but in the long run, people respond to what they see. They might even listen, but they usually will act based on the actions of the person talking.
If you want to be a leader and if you want to be as good as you can and maximize your potential, you have to put in the work. You can't cut corners, and you can't skip steps. If you come early, you can expect your teammates to come early. If you stay late, you can expect your teammates to stay late. If you come late and leave early, you can expect your teammates to do so as well. You can't skip steps, and you can't cut corners.
You can't expect the rewards before you put in the effort, and you can't expect the rewards before you prove yourself.
As Michale Jordan's high school coach, Clifton "Pop" Herring, used to say: "It's hard, but it's fair."
NOTHING OF VALUE
COMES WITHOUT BEING EARNED.
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