The Critical Role Sports Plays in Life

A famous quote says, “Sports do not build character. They reveal it.” OK, perhaps, but that play on words is far from the truth in my eyes. The sports field is a fabulous teacher, and it’s up to the athletes to learn from it. I know much of my education came from them.

We also often hear the phrase, “It’s just a game.” Sure, but it’s more than a game. It’s the environment so many youngsters learn about achievement for life after the games end.

In my quest to discover what goes into success, I look to my career to find more answers. The following are just some of the lessons I learned that helped me beyond the game and are critical messages for all athletes.

Character Building Lessons

·       Improvement, if not success, is only possible with some sacrifice. I could have been doing something else that required less sweat when I was young, but I chose to pass on family vacations and rise before dawn to play. Later in my career, many all-night bus rides and late-night and daybreak flights tested my resolve. Lesson learned — days will come when I don’t want to do something and prefer to join the party, but I know I can prevent self-disappointment by sacrificing now for the reward later. Making the dedication to your goal deep in your heart, so the sacrifice doesn’t seem as severe, is the key.

·       Achievement comes from focusing on the controllable — the preparation, the concentration, and the effort. Consistent hard work can eliminate self-doubt and bring elusive self-assurance.  Lesson learned — staying focused on daily work ethic and giving it one hundred percent is the road to confidence, or at the least, self-satisfaction.

·       The daily grind is decisive to qualify for more meaningful moments. I was fortunate to have the opportunity to play in the Los Angeles Dodgers organization. The team and front office's talent provided many chances to play postseason games. But “nothing is a given,” and we had to earn it on the field. Lesson learned — slacking will lead to the inability to finish. When one takes shortcuts in the process, it shows up as a failure when it counts most.

·       You know you are only as good as your last game. Success depends on a short memory after bad games and not becoming complacent after good ones. “Forget about it” and “Stay hungry” must be the thought process. Lesson learned — keep the focus on incremental advancement without dwelling on the negatives. Living on the past is for losers; it’s all about what you can bring tomorrow.

Finally, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to know that no magic solution exists for achievement — it takes a step-by-step journey. The key is to get moving on your goals, you will not regret it, and it may be the life-changer you’ve desired. Just remember that more danger lies in spending too much time on the couch than getting out the door.