Uncommon

In his book Quiet Strength, former football coach Tony Dungy shares how one of his former football coaches used to give the same speech to incoming Freshmen every year. Part of that speech was that “Success is uncommon and not to be enjoyed by the common man.” Dungy knew even at that early age that he had a better chance of becoming uncommon by his efforts than he did by natural ability. He uses Yao Ming’s height and Michael Jordan’s vertical jump as examples of God-given natural abilities. Basketball player Steve Kerr, on the other hand, shot five hundred free throws a day to make himself uncommon.

I love this concept of being uncommon not because of natural abilities, but because of uncommon effort to achieve a goal. Five hundred free throws!?!?  That’s uncommon effort.

Not every football player is inducted into the hall of fame. Not every heavyweight boxer is a champ. Not every figure skater becomes a world champion. Not every business owner enjoys the success of a Donald Trump or a Reginald Lewis. Why? I believe it is because where natural ability may be limited, sometimes we choose not to push past the natural and press for the uncommon. Get the education, get the training, get wise advisors…if you’re an athlete, train like your life depends on it!!! PUSH!

So today I just want to encourage you to push. Push for the uncommon and live a robust life with God.