Page 205 - Why We Want You To Be Rich - Donald Trump, Robert Kiyosaki.pdf

WHAT WAS THE DEFINING LESSON You LEARNED FROM SPORTS I 199

7. I also have a black belt in Tae Kwon Do. In Tae Kwon Do, I learned
the importance ofchi - the inner power that flows through our
body.

While I have learned many important lessons playing sports, the one
that stands our is a lesson I learned while I was playing high school football.
When I was a junior, our high school had a great football team. Because
there were so many great players, that meant I sat on the bench for most
games.
It was really embarrassing at the end of the game to come off the field
with a perfectly clean uniform. My fellow benchwarmers and I would often
accidentally-an-purpose trip and dig our knees into the mud just to get some
dirt on our spotless uniforms. By mid-season, we had stopped tripping and
weresimply rubbing mud all over our uniforms.
As the season went on, with me still on the bench, I began to think that
mycoach had it out for me. I believed he didn't play me because he didn't
likeme. By mid-season I was planning on quitting. My feelings were hurt.
One evening, after a really tough practice, the assistant coach walked
up to me, put his hands on my shoulder and said, "I want to talk to you."
This coach's name was Herman Clark. A former NFL player, he was a
reallybig man. He volunteered his time because he loved the game so much.
In his quiet and gentle way, he said, "Do you know why the coach isn't
playingyou?"
"No:' I said. "I don't know. I do all the right things. I show up for
practice. I run extra laps. I'm as good asJesse."Jesse was the starter for my
position.
"Yes. That's true:' said Mr. Clark. "You also have more talent and speed
than Jesse."
"So why does he play?" I asked. "Why not play me?"
"BecauseJesse has more heart. Jesse wants the position more than you.
Inlife,talent is not enough. Ifyou want a startingposition, you need to take
Yourselfto a whole new level. You have the body, but you lack the spirit."
Although I still wanted to quit, I took Mr. Clark's words to heart. For
the next two weeks, I practiced like I'd never practiced before. I was intense.
L~~~_-...",------ Two MEN • ONE MESSAGE
-- -
. - . -- ~--