‘Hard work beats talent, when talent doesn’t work hard’
The above quote is one of my all-time favourites and one that I have personally followed over the last 5 years, particularly during my academic and career endeavours. Do yourself a favour and say it out loud - but this time actually think about it.
Hard work beats talent, when talent doesn’t work hard. Meaning if you ‘work hard’ you can beat/win/do better than someone that may have more talent than you, but does not ‘work hard’. Motivation 101 baby!
At the start of the 2016 state basketball season, I asked all squads (male & female) ‘who here wants to play at the college or NBA/WNBA level?’ Have a guess at how many athletes raised their hands?
Literally every athlete.
As a coach this made me happy for two reasons 1) to see such ambition and desire at a young age, but also 2) because I immediately understood their goal and I could hold them accountable to reaching that goal. What did I say to them next? You need to work hard and set a high standard to get there.
What does ‘working hard’ actually mean?
Well it may have a different meaning for you but I think of working hard as a series of key qualities that I call 1%ers (that are ironically worth a lot more than 1%). These qualities include showing elite work ethic, 100% effort, a positive attitude, respectable body language, and above all being a nice person that is coachable as an athlete.
If you are an athlete that wants to take your athletic career to the next level, than set yourself a high standard and don’t let yourself drop below that standard. Every time you set foot in the gym, come in, work hard and get better than before you entered the gym an hour ago. Don’t do it every second week or second training, but do it every day and breathe it.
Holding this high standard could be the difference between getting a contract renewal or getting delisted after your first draft season. From a coaches perspective I will ALWAYS pick the kid that wants to work hard over someone that has more talent, is lazy and does not express ‘hard working’ qualities. These hard working qualities are funnily enough not that hard to demonstrate but can play a difference in your athletic career and life. Don’t just work hard when your surrounded by other people, but do it when no one else is watching. That is what holding a standard means.
This is especially important in team sports where if you don’t work hard and hold that high standard, you will eventually bring others and the ‘ship’ down with you. Instead make yourself and others around you better and create an environment that thrives off of getting better. At The Athlete Movement, I demand these qualities not only from my athletes, but also myself. Practice what you preach and continually get better.
Shout out to Tim Notke, a High School Basketball coach who originally quoted ‘Hard work beats talent, when talent doesn’t work hard’. As well as Kevin Durant, who made it famous in his 2007 NBA draft speech. To all aspiring elite athletes, work hard and keep grindin'!
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