By Jonathan Hutcherson
What is failure?
Is it dropping a potential touchdown or throwing an interception? Is it missing the game winning shot or striking out in the ninth? Whatever your description is, you can see failure in many aspects of our lives. However, it is not the number of times we fail that matter, but what we learn and how we respond to that adversity.
Michael Jordan said, “I can accept failure, but I cannot accept not trying. The pain of failure was my motivation”. Today many young athletes are afraid to fail and do not want to take such risks.
We don’t want to be the next Vine clip or victim of social media. This creates an atmosphere where kids stay in their comfort zone. This can be detrimental to their sport careers as well as their lives off the field. Too many times I see this and wonder how I can give advice from my own failures.
Take a look at most successful people in sports, business or life in general. What do they have in common? These people have failed time and time again. Yes kids, Steph Curry misses more shots than he makes. Yet, without those failures, success cannot happen. I can tell you from my own experiences that my failures have motivated and taught me more than any of my success.
I urge young athletes and kids alike to not be afraid of failure. These experiences, whether positive or negative remain persistent and patient. Find what drives you in life and pursue it with all your heart. Never let doubt or failure stop you from reaching your goals!
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