They say it takes 10,000 hours of practice to perfect a skill, and Lin clearly believes that. His skills have been developed over years of constant, unrelenting training. There are no free rides… in basketball or in life.
- Carpe Diem
When Lin was picked up by the Knicks he arrived with no expectations. Just a kid with no hype surrounding him, nobody expected Lin to be the next big thing. He was only started because the team was suffering too many injuries and absences, and he knew he had to make a splash if he was going to make it. You may only get one chance to blow the audience away. Don’t waste it.
- Tenacity Counts
Nobody would have foreseen Jeremy Lin making it all the way to the NBA. As an Asian American the odds were stacked against him, and when he wasn’t offered an athletic scholarship to college he took the hard route. He studied hard, pushing his GPA to 4.2 and heading to Harvard on the strength of his academic achievements. The path of least resistance rarely leads to success.
- Risk Comes Before Reward
Lin’s contract with the New York Knicks wasn’t handed to him on a silver platter. Before he was signed he slept on his brother’s couch in the Lower East Side as he couldn’t afford to pay rent. If you want to succeed you have to take risks. Leave everything out on the court. Sleep on a couch. People who play safe rarely make it big.
Nobody would have foreseen Jeremy Lin making it all the way to the NBA. As an Asian American the odds were stacked against him, and when he wasn’t offered an athletic scholarship to college he took the hard route. He studied hard, pushing his GPA to 4.2 and heading to Harvard on the strength of his academic achievements. The path of least resistance rarely leads to success.
- Risk Comes Before Reward
Lin’s contract with the New York Knicks wasn’t handed to him on a silver platter. Before he was signed he slept on his brother’s couch in the Lower East Side as he couldn’t afford to pay rent. If you want to succeed you have to take risks. Leave everything out on the court. Sleep on a couch. People who play safe rarely make it big.
- Believe in Yourself
Lin’s professional career up until now could be summed up in three words: ‘Seriously, this guy?’. Nothing about his success was pre-destined, and he had to fight for every inch. He’s one of the few Asian Americans to make it in the NBA, and the first Harvard graduate in the league since 1954. Without a degree of self belief as tough as titanium he would have given up long ago.
- Don’t Brag
We’ve seen success go to the heads of far too many athletes to count, but Jeremy Lin has so far resisted. It takes guts to be a gracious loser, but it’s often more difficult to be a gracious winner. Lin accepts victory with class and style.
Lin’s professional career up until now could be summed up in three words: ‘Seriously, this guy?’. Nothing about his success was pre-destined, and he had to fight for every inch. He’s one of the few Asian Americans to make it in the NBA, and the first Harvard graduate in the league since 1954. Without a degree of self belief as tough as titanium he would have given up long ago.
- Don’t Brag
We’ve seen success go to the heads of far too many athletes to count, but Jeremy Lin has so far resisted. It takes guts to be a gracious loser, but it’s often more difficult to be a gracious winner. Lin accepts victory with class and style.
- Know Your Own Strengths
Before joining the Knicks Lin played for Golden State and Houston, and was dropped by both teams in order to free up funds to pay for new players. Lin isn’t a flashy player. He doesn’t dazzle, but he’s a great passer and distributor. It was only when the Knicks recognized his strengths that he found a permanent place in a team. You have to know your strengths and weaknesses, and find an organization where you’ll thrive.
- Look for a Lin
On the flip side, you can take a lesson from Knicks coach Mike D’Antoni. Look for the strengths of the people in your life and work. You might have employees right now who aren’t performing as well as they should. Do you have them dunking when they should be passing? Re-tasking can be better than replacing.
Before joining the Knicks Lin played for Golden State and Houston, and was dropped by both teams in order to free up funds to pay for new players. Lin isn’t a flashy player. He doesn’t dazzle, but he’s a great passer and distributor. It was only when the Knicks recognized his strengths that he found a permanent place in a team. You have to know your strengths and weaknesses, and find an organization where you’ll thrive.
- Look for a Lin
On the flip side, you can take a lesson from Knicks coach Mike D’Antoni. Look for the strengths of the people in your life and work. You might have employees right now who aren’t performing as well as they should. Do you have them dunking when they should be passing? Re-tasking can be better than replacing.
- Be Original
Too many players set their sights on being the next Michael Jordan, and they rarely realize that this is a fool’s errand. Jeremy Lin is content to be the best he can be. He isn’t trying to emulate anyone else. He’s simply doing what he does best. Forge your own path.
- Make Your Team Look Good
Finally, success is a team effort. Lin knows this. He knows that the top of the league is full of great teams, not great individuals. Going for personal glory is rarely the best approach. Make the team look good and everybody wins.
Too many players set their sights on being the next Michael Jordan, and they rarely realize that this is a fool’s errand. Jeremy Lin is content to be the best he can be. He isn’t trying to emulate anyone else. He’s simply doing what he does best. Forge your own path.
- Make Your Team Look Good
Finally, success is a team effort. Lin knows this. He knows that the top of the league is full of great teams, not great individuals. Going for personal glory is rarely the best approach. Make the team look good and everybody wins.
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