I confess, it seems like all I am doing lately is stealing! I see something I like and I just can’t help but take it. I recently stole an old Chris Brady post on dreaming, then I stole a leadership blog post from Orrin Woodward on having fun, now I’m going to steal a Chuck Cullen post on Perseverance.
With many great leaders in LIFE-Team it is easy to find so much material that one can use to better themselves and keep moving forward for a better life.
Chuck Cullen writes of a young man who got to where he is by becoming an “overnight success” through years and years of hard work. The difference between him and most people who work hard is when he was dealt a bad hand he made the decision to persist.
Enjoy the Article, Steve Leurquin
Oh the Lin-sanity!!!
For all of you that are following the amazing story of Jeremy Lin…the current point guard phenom for the New York Knicks…here are some facts. Hopefully, after you read through this you’ll understand that there is no such thing as an overnight success…
High School career-
-Led his High School team to a 32-1 record his senior year and won the State Championship in California
-First team All-State selection
-Northern California Player of the Year in 2006
RESULT = Minimal college interest and NO SCHOLARSHIP!
What did he do? PERSIST!!
College Career-
-Walk-on player at Harvard
-Sophomore year – starting guard and selected All-Ivy League second team.
-Junior year- All-Ivy League FIRST TEAM selection
-Led his teams to wins over 17th ranked Boston College and #1 ranked North Carolina
-Senior year- averaged 16.4 pts./ 4.4 rebounds/ 4.5 assists/ 2.4 steals/ 1.1 blocked shots
-Finalist for the John Wooden award and Bob Cousy award
-ESPN’s 12 most versatile players in College basketball
-First player in Ivy League history to finish his career with at least 1450 pts./ 450 rebounds/ 400 assists/ 200 steals
- Graduated with a degree in Economics in 2010
RESULT = 2010 Draft UNDRAFTED…minimal interest from pro teams
What did he do? PERSIST!
NBA Career -
-8 teams allowed him to come to pre-draft workouts
-Dallas Mavericks let him play in the summer league with the team
-Signed a non-guaranteed contract with the Golden State Warriors following summer league play
-On roster for first game, but listed as “inactive”
-3 times demoted to Warriors D-League affiliate Reno Bighorns
-His Warriors coach said he kept him in the D-League because “he’s a minimum, inexpensive asset. You need to look at him as developing…is he going to be a Superstar? NO!”
-Jeremy’s response – “part of being on a team is putting your ego aside…”
-December 9, 2011- waived on the first day of training camp (60 days away from $800,000 guaranteed contract)
-Claimed off waivers by the Houston Rockets – waived before start of season.
-January 17th, 2013 – claimed off waivers by the New York Knicks and immediately sent to the D-League Erie Bay Hawks.
-January 20th, 2012 – Due to injuries to Knicks starters, Lin is brought in to a starting lineup in his first NBA game.
RESULT = 25pts./5 rebounds/ 7 assists and a win over the New Jersey Nets
Second NBA game = 28pts./ 8 assists and a win over the Utah Jazz
Third NBA game = 38pts./ 7 assists and a win over the L.A. Lakers outscoring All-Star Kobe Bryant by 4 pts.
Fourth NBA game = 20 pts./ 8 assists and a win over the Minnesota Timberwolves
Fith NBA game = 27 pts./ 11 assists and a game winning 3-point shot against the Toronto Raptors!!
-Currently has scored more points in his first 5 NBA starts than ANY player in NBA history since the merger…just AHEAD of Shaquille O’neil!
Here is what Kobe Bryant had to say about Lin after the Knicks beat the Lakers and Lin had a career high 38 pts…”When a player is playing that well, he doesn’t just come out of nowhere…it just seems like it. Go back and take a look at where he’s been…”
Here’s the deal…Jeremy Lin is no overnight success. He is a talented, tenacious, hard-working professional basketball player that was overlooked because of his size, and over-all athletic ability. Nobody knew the size of his heart nor understood his mastery of the game. Because he never gave up, and he continued to work hard and prepare, he was ready when his opportunity came. PERSIST!!
Click here to watch Lin’s last second game winning 3-point shot against the Toronto Raptors… http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkkgsvfDgfM
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Roundball! Love it. What a fabulous story and great article. I’m feeling the start of GNN – good news network. Thanks to you, Chuck Cullen and so many others for for putting forth the extra effort it takes to lead so many to positive, inspiring and useful information through your blogs.
Some of the best special ed teachers in the world (even former ones) are the best and finding great information that is both relevant and connects with the audience. Thanks for posting this for two reasons 1) it’s an inspiring story and just plan AWESOME!, and 2) I’m not a basketball fan and don’t have TV coming into my house anymore, so I had no idea who Lin is! I just knew the basics…huge basketball star that rose through ranks.
Thanks!
Thanks Steve, It got me thinking (uh-oh)… about the equation: opportunity + preparedness= success. That equation may be missing the persistence piece so relavent in this story. Brady’s equation includes persistence in his equation: hard work + smart work + OVER TIME = success. One could argue that the persistence is a subset of preparedness, but I digress…. Bottom line, thanks for showing that guys like Jeremy get “lucky”.
Great article Steve! Its not stealing, Its paying it forward and reaching out to inspire and bless many more people! Its so inspiring that I had to post it on Facebook. We all need daily doses of inspiration like this one. I hope everyone out there in facebookland takes the time to read it too. Thank you for sharing!
Hope everyone on facebook enjoys this great story Jason.
Steve
Another great article! Just proves that energy and persistence conquers all things. Thanks for the repost Steve!
Justin, I love a great dream struggle victory story.
Thanks for your post.
Steve
This article reminds me of a great quote I have heard many times since joining the LIFE/TEAM…”Those who stay will be champions!”
LOVE IT!!!
Adam, That is one of my favorite quotes of all time.
Steve