Buy into yourself

Start with yourself.

Hall of Fame football coach Bill Parcells once said that everyday we fight 3 separate adversaries:

1. Division from within
2. Your competition
3. Public perception

Notice that Parcells starts the same way I did. You are the key, you are your own best friend, and you are your own worst enemy. In order to accomplish any goals you set, you have to begin by addressing your own strengths and weaknesses.

Sometimes the problem with us is that we don't buy into everything we have to offer to the situation. That's division. I'm here to tell you that you have to eliminate division from within immediately, because if you wouldn't buy what you're selling, how can you expect anyone else to? Look at yourself as the product, and you have to believe in that product in order for others to follow suit.

I've noticed that in athletics, and in coaching in particular, coaches will try to be like other more-accomplished coaches. I disagree with this. I say that you can learn so much from other coaches who have experience and success, and you should show the utmost respect to everyone. But, I'm here to tell you, I'm working on being my own coach. I want to be the best Travis Ponton I can be, and I know that if i put the time and effort into it, when the opportunity comes I can keep building my own legacy. Meet new people, open your mind, learn from the best, but be your own person. You can spend all your time trying to be the next Michael Jordan, Peyton Manning, Jimmy Johnson, Roy Williams, etc., or you can start investing in yourself. The most successful people I think realize this early, and work to join those elite names at the top of their professions.

A lack of self confidence is one of the easiest weaknesses to spot. You've either got it or you don't. But it's not something we're born with, and it's a renewable resource that's easy to find. We handicap ourselves by going into any situation with any doubt in our minds that we can be successful. Stop letting division from within slow you down. You're destined to do great things, and until you give up on that concept then you have a chance to keep moving in the right direction.

All things good and bad start somewhere. Make a decision to start something great right now. take the first step by eliminating the obstacles you have created for yourself. There are so many other things standing in your way, but control what you can control and build your own foundation that you know is the best in the neighborhood. When you know you're great, it's easier for everyone else to see.

I always say to live in your own reality, and remember that the person with the strongest reality usually comes out on top. We tackle division from within more than we even notice, but if we can minimize that, and start buying into ourselves, we can start every morning ahead of the curve. Wake up tomorrow morning, thank God that he gave you another day to carry out His plan for you, and then make the most of it.

"Everyday is a holiday, every meal is a feast."

-TP
twitter: @travisponton