THE ABSOLUTE TRUTH:
THERE IS A SUPERMAN/SUPERWOMAN ALREADY INSIDE YOU!
The first step to success: Realize that there is a Superman or Superman already inside you.
You have all the ability — all the raw talent — you need already inside you.
When you tell yourself you don’t have what it takes — you’re not telling the truth...
you’re lying to yourself!
Over the 17 days of last year’s Winter Olympics, the most inspiring story in the world of sports did not happen in Italy — it happened in Greece. It did not happen in the country of Greece, but in the city of Greece — Greece, New York, a suburb of Rochester.
February 15, 2006 was senior night for the boys’ basketball team at Greece Athena High School. Coach Jim Johnson rewarded Jason McElwain, his hard-working student team manager for the last three seasons, by letting him put on a varsity uniform for the team’s final home game. But Jason knew he shouldn’t get his hopes up because he’d only get into the game if his team had a big lead.
With four minutes left, the Trojans were way ahead and Jason got his chance!
His teammates fed him the ball and he threw up an air ball. Seconds later he missed his second shot. What should you expect from a kid who’s only 5’6” tall and spent the whole season picking up towels, filling water bottles, and wiping up sweat? After all, that’s what team managers do.
Then something amazing happened.
Jason caught fire and hit six three-point shots in a row and just as the final buzzer sounded, he sank another shot. Twenty points in less than four minutes! Greece Athena’s opponent that night, Spencerport High School, only scored 43 points for the entire game.
Some have criticized the Winter Olympics at Turin, Italy as having no magical moments. That night in Greece, New York something truly magical happened.
Is this just another “Rudy” or Rocky” story where the classic underdog finally gets his chance and excels? No, this story is much more than that. It is probably one of the most inspirational sports stories of all time. What Jason did would be a great accomplishment even for an NBA star. It’s an especially great accomplishment for a 5’6” student manager who never played even one second of high school basketball.
It’s even more of an accomplishment for a special education student who is autistic. That’s right, Jason is autistic.
Despite his challenges, Jason was able to tap into that basketball superstar who already resides inside him.
You know what that means for you? If he did it, you can do it too! There’s a great student, a great athlete, a great musician, a great actor, a great scientist, a great writer, a great whatever inside you too!
The Jason McElwain story reminds me of one more thing . . .
If you’re a parent or you’re going to be a parent — never give up on any child.
If you’re a teacher or you’re going to be a teacher — never give up on any student.
If you’re a coach or you’re going to be a coach — never give up on any athlete.
Never give up on anyone and most of all — never ever give up on yourself!
Call Success Hotline today at (973) 743-4690.
Go all out/never hold back,
Rob Gilbert
