Success

I've heard from business people, and I've seen proof in many areas, including sports, business, pastoring, and politics, that it isn't talent that brings success. It isn't know how, abilities, or even common sense. There are two ingredients: discipline and drive.

By discipline I mean the ability to force yourself to do what needs to be done rather than what you'd like to do. By drive I mean a never ending stamina and determination to just keep pounding away at what you want. This combination necessitates a certain humility.

I am taken to the story of the Akron Zips' head coach, J.D. Brookhart. I watched Akron play Memphis in the Motor City Bowl, and the announcers told the story. He was a successful software salesman making a very comfortable living, but he felt that he wanted to coach football. Finally, he quit and became an unpaid intern for Mike Shanahan simply to learn the game. He washed cars, ran errands, and did functions that a high school kid might do. But, soon he had an assistant's job. Brookhart became an assistant coach at Pitt for seven years. Now, he's the second year head coach of Akron, and he's turned the program around...making a name for himself.

My question is: "How badly do I want to write?" Am I spending my spare time watching TV or just chillin' out when I should be relentless in my disciplined writing? I should be writing more every day.

It's easy to be an arrogant, prideful nothing. We can easily see how poorly others succeed, but what do we do?

There are many times more mutual funds than there are stocks. There are many more analysts than mutual funds. There are more critics than movie producers. There are more sports writers and commentators than football players.

The point is that it's far easier to live comfortably without real discipline and criticize those who are humbling themselves to discipline themselves and plod endlessly toward their goal.
To whom much is given much is required