Samples:

The Professor Turned Insurance Salesman
My High School Football Coach
George Dantzig

 
My High School Football Coach

Slow and steady wins the race.
The Tortoise and the Hare
Æsop, C. 550 BC

The game of football, as played today, is far different from the way football was played in the late 1950s. Today's game is played to create fan excitement. But in 1958, when I was in high school, the game centered more on the very basic fundamentals - blocking and tackling.

In those days, the offensive scheme could be described as "three yards and a cloud of dust" - which means that the primary offensive play was a running play designed to gain three yards. Since it was a running play, there were always a lot of opposing players tackling the runner, and a cloud of dust was normally kicked up in the process.

Even today, I remember a team meeting where the coach explained the importance of making each play successful. His exact words were, "If we could gain three yards on each and every play, we would win every game we played."

I thought about his comments long after the meeting. Of course, he was right. For those of you that might not know and understand the game of football, a bit of explanation is in order. In football, you have four downs (or plays) to move the ball forward 10 yards. If you succeed, you get another four downs; otherwise you turn the ball over to the other team. So if you gained three yards on every play, you would continue to move forward and would eventually score a touchdown - and you could repeat this process every time you got the ball.

Even though this type of game isn't nearly as exciting as the wide open, high-octane type of football played today, the coach was absolutely correct in his thinking. So what is the lesson? It is quite simple, but extremely profound, and if you adopt this philosophy, your life will be much better.

Take the example of a rather common dream: to become financially independent. Most people equate this to becoming a millionaire. This goal isn't far fetched if you adopt the "three yards and a cloud of dust" approach - that is, if you decided to make a little progress toward your goal each and every day.

But what do most people do? For the first few days or weeks, they take action toward their goal. Typically, though, they give up too quickly. They start down one path, get bored or discouraged the first time the going gets a bit rough, and jump to some other path. Or they try to reach their goal by making a big spectacular play. When that fails, they try for an even more spectacular play - or they simply give up.

Almost any person with average education and ability could reach millionaire status in five to seven years if they would opt for slow and steady progress each and every day. But most people do not have the patience and determination to work at that pace.

I used the example of financial success, but it does not matter what your goal is. One sure way to achieve your dreams is to fix on what you truly want and then make progress each and every day.

Success is not a destination. You don't wake up one day and get a certificate that declares you are a success. Success is a journey. A successful life is no more than a collection of successful days, weeks, months and then years. Today is the only day you have to work toward your goals, so make today count.

He that pursues two hares at once, does not catch one and lets t'other go.
Benjamin Franklin, 1706 - 1790

Read another lesson: The Professor Turned Insurance Salesman | George Dantzig

Or sign up for my free weekly newsletter:

All text copyright © John Chancellor, 2007. All images copyright © Cheryl A. Chancellor, 2007. Site design and coding by Copper Moon Creative.