Growth Club
1851 Growth Club
You Decide When You Want to Own the Opportunity
Turning life's ups and downs into fuel can help you seize each and every opportunity that comes your way.
Tom Brady sat back at the 2000 NFL draft watching quarterback after quarterback get drafted ahead of him.
Chad Pennington from Marshall went R1(18). Giovanni Carmazzi from Hofstra went R3(3). Chris Redman from Louisville went R3(13). Tee Martin from Tennessee went R5(34). Marc Bulger from West Virginia went R6(2). Spergon Wynn from Texas State University went R6(17). And then, finally, Brady from Michigan went R6(33—pick number 199).
One-hundred-and-ninety-eight players were picked before him. All NFL teams six-times over passed up on arguably the greatest quarterback of all time.
But did that stop him?
No.
Brady owned his opportunity. He took that chip, put it on his shoulder and fought for the opportunity to be the greatest.
Did he quit on the Patriots even though they were a part of the passing—having picked others in earlier rounds? No. He committed to the team that gave him the chance and owned it. Brady owned it.
There are plenty of sports stories like Brady’s (ahem, Michael Jordan getting cut from the high school team). And there are plenty of those stories in business.
Chips on shoulders can be a good thing. But eating them is better.
You want a new title or more money? Do something about it. Pull a Tom Brady and prove that you are the best in your organization; that you’re unwilling to be phased by management overlooking your talent; and that you’re committed to excellence in yourself, and in turn, the business you work with.
In business and in life, I have my own chips—an entire bag of them. They’ve accumulated over time—from previous jobs to being bullied as a kid. I eat those chips everyday, using them as fuel to own my opportunities. This fuel motivates me to do the impossible. It inspires me to dream. It inspires me to be better. It makes me believe in karma.
Turning every moment in life into fuel has helped me brush off bad days and unexpected changes. It’s also helped me to seize each opportunity.
You should do the same. You, my friend, are in control of your own future. If you believe you are the best, prove it with your results, commitment and attitude.
Was Tom Brady pissed that he didn’t get picked first—or anywhere, for that matter—before 1999? Damn right he was. But he used it as fuel to push him toward more and more excellence.
What’s your fuel? What are you willing to do with it?
MORE STORIES LIKE THIS
NEXT ARTICLE
Featured Franchise News
Featured Brand News
