What Can A Baseball Player Teach You About Your Business?

Recently, my 23-year-old son helped me to truly understand the question - "How Bad Do You Want It?"

He has always, and I mean ALWAYS wanted to be a pitcher in the Major Leagues. However, through his high school and college years he was plagued with injuries and did not get a great deal of playing time other than a year or two here and there and some summer league opportunities. But the dream stayed alive in his heart and when he graduated from college, he held fast to that dream and talked about it constantly... and yet what was he doing to ensure his own success?

Here's what I kept hearing from him week after week...

I REALLY want this to happen BUT:

• I haven't had that much team playing time since I was injured so much during my high school and college years

• I don't have a mentor or someone who can show me the ropes and get me exposure

• I hate my job, I'm not making enough money but I hate to commit to a job that I may have to leave soon if I do get the chance to play professionally

• I'm worried about what might happen with me and my girlfriend I've been with since my sophomore year of college if I have to travel to play baseball

• I have all these student loans to pay back and I'm not making enough money... and did I mention, I hate my job?!

The question... how was he going to get exposure and how was he going to train while he was working 50-60 hours a week in his underpaying, demanding job? This was the conversation we would have week after week.

My constant question to him was..."How bad do you want it?"

If you want it bad enough, you will do whatever it takes. You'll train in the hours before you go to work, or after. You'll talk to everyone you know and find a mentor to support you and guide you with all the do's, don'ts, options and possibilities. You'll find every opportunity to play, to throw and to be around people who are also pursuing their dreams.

I could tell he was hearing me but I could also tell he was just not willing to make a clear, decisive decision...and nothing was happening...he was getting no closer to his dream of the Major Leagues - stuck in the what ifs, stuck in a job he hated, and swimming in his own doubt and fear.

Then I started seeing a shift...I could feel a new awareness creeping in.... "If I don't do it now, my window of opportunity will be gone and I will regret never going for it." Then I started hearing a decision being made...."I DO want this, more than anything and I'm willing to do what it takes."

He started training in the mornings before work. He started searching for a mentor. He started visualizing and knowing that his dream was absolutely possible and he was willing to do what it takes to step into the opportunity...and boy did that get tested!

As soon as he truly made that decision an opportunity came his way (through his father) to throw in front of a wonderful trainer and mentor who was very impressed, saw a great deal of potential and offered to help him get a shot. The only things was...he lived 600 miles away, which meant Kyle would have to leave his college sweetheart, find a new place to live, find a new job that would support his training schedule with his new mentor and figure out how he could work a job, train and still keep up with his student loans....There was that question again....

"How bad do you want it?"

His response... Bad enough to do all the things mentioned above, even to the point of moving to a new place on the promise of only a part-time job and temporarily move in with his Dad and stepmother.

I have been watching him step into his dream (time and time again) with such incredible willingness and humility. He has been willing to let so much go including a sense of security, his relationship, as he knew it, money and even pride. Not only did he leave his job for a part-time job, temporarily leave the woman that he loves and move back in with his father, but he also trains with kids much younger than him day in and day out because his passion is so great!

I couldn't be more proud of what a passionate and committed young man my son has become!

Your Authentic Assignment

Here is my question to you..."How bad do you want it?" How bad do you want a successful business that changes people's lives and leaves this world a better place? How bad do you want to never make another decision based on how much money you have or will have or "need"? How bad do you want to create a life style full of choices and freedom, comfort, beauty, compassion, passion and joy? How bad do you want to make a difference, for others...and for yourself?

It is an important question and one that begs the next question...so what are you willing to do for it? What are you willing to do to step into the next opportunity for you and your business? Are you willing to let go of pride, are you willing to take a leap of faith for your dream. Are you willing to show up every day as the "master of your fate, the captain of your soul"? Are you willing to put the time in, invest the money and throw your heart into your dream?

That's what it takes to move from having a hobby and something you are interested in to having a business and something you are committed to. So...How bad DO you want it?