People often approach me after an event.

They say, “I want to do what you do!”

My response is always the same.

“Are you willing to do what I’ve done.”

The truth is a lot of people want to BE something.

An author.

A speaker.

A dancer.

An artist.

Wanting to BE something is great.

We should aspire to BE more.

It’s the DOING part that messes most people up.

That’s when the yogurt hits the proverbial fan.

Many want to be the noun.

Only a few are willing to be the verb and DO the things that are required to BE what they say they want most.

Think about it.

Anyone who has achieved anything of significance has worked hard.

They paid the price.

Their desire was stronger than their fear.

Their belief was bigger than the obstacles.

Their passion is greater than the pain.

High performance people practice the way they intend to play the game.

Nothing is casual.

They don’t mail it in.

While most practice at half speed, legendary performers understand that how you practice is how you play.

The NFL Hall of Fame wide receiver Jerry Rice understood this concept.

During practice, every time he caught the ball he would sprint full speed to the end zone.

One day during training camp a rookie player took note.

He watched how Jerry practiced.

And sure enough, every time he caught the ball, he would race straight to the end zone with intensity and focus.

If I am that rookie I’m thinking, “Why is the great Jerry Rice going all out in practice?

He’s an icon. He has nothing to prove.”

The rookie would eventually muster the courage to ask Jerry about it.

Jerry’s response says it all.

He said, “I am training my mind and body to associate touching the football with scoring a touchdown.

Every time these hands touch the ball my brain and my body are looking for the endzone.”

A powerful lesson for all of us.

Jerry wanted it more than anyone else and he was willing to DO the work to BE the best.

When you want it more than your competitors you will do whatever it takes to find the end zone.

You will make one more call.

Go the extra mile.

Spend time on personal development.

Put in the practice.

When you want something, to visualize the outcome is a powerful force. When you hold that image in your mind’s eye everything begins to conspire in your favor to make it a reality.

Jerry Rice wanted to score touchdowns.

There was no doubt about the goal.

He could see it.

And his body could feel it.

When you want something bad enough the way will always reveal itself.

And the more work you do to prepare yourself for victory the more light will be shown on your path.

Desire + Action = Victory.

Thanks for the lesson, Mr. Rice.