Aspiration vs. Perspiration
Do You Have What It Takes?
 
In the many years I've both coached and mentored in the world of college basketball, I've heard many lofty goals. As a young coach it's easy to get wrapped up in the perceived virtues of basketball's biggest stages.
With dozens of games on per night, dreaming of roaming the sidelines we watch every night becomes the standard.
 
Goals are a roadmap, not a guaranteed destination. They help us see the final destination of our career and the stops along the way. Goals that are not understood can serve to give us a false sense of the realities ahead of us.
 
No matter what your goals, experience, background as a player, or love for the game, a goal written down has no power. Yes, it serves us in terms of our direction, but the "how," "why," and the knowledge of how to gain these are not spelled out.
 
Here are some thoughts that will help you:
1. A goal without action is just a dream.
2. Once goals are written, they must be broken down into the many small action items that will move you toward reaching your goal.
3. Every action counts, so be encouraged that you are always getting closer.
4. Advice and knowledge are OK, but it's the strategies behind the finer skills needed that make the difference.
5. What you desire and want to become are meaningless without a roadmap and a daily, consistent effort. This is where aspiration and perspiration come in.
 
Aspirations are those things we dream of that we desire to do someday. They can be realistic or lofty, it's up to you and what you want to attempt to accomplish.
 
Remember, your effort, determination, resilience, toughness, and ability to stay on task with actionable tasks, are the things that will consistently help you regain your place on the path of success.
 
So goals are good enough, alone?
 
No they are not.
 
To say you want to be a head Division I college is one thing. The effort, sacrifice, knowledge, creativeness, and consistent action is the thing that will also be needed.
 
The goal is the aspiration.......the needed component is perspiration.
 
This is where "the rubber meets the road." Do you have what it takes to match or exceed your goals with the work required? Time will tell. Those I've seen become successful always understood that failure is a major part of making progress. They didn't quit in the face of a disaster, failure, or disappointment. Why? Because the goals are still in place, and the effort given during the tough times is what made the difference.
 
So, it's up to you!
 
You have the aspiration. You are capable of doing the work; the perspiration. In the tough times will you have the ability to pick yourself up and match or exceed with effort, the daunting aspiration before you. If you quit you'll never know!
 
Perspiration must match and exceed your aspiration!