Everyone talks about turning negatives into positives.  This goes for the athletic fields to corporate America.  People will tell you in an interview to make sure you list your weakness in a positive way, which I always find hilarious, because everyone does this in interviews and the employers know they are going to do it so it seems like someone should be creative and just say you know what I really stink at is… and this list an actual weakness (maybe this is why I can’t find a job).  Then there is me telling you that on the field you should not worry about your weaknesses but instead play to your strengths.  Then there are people who tell you just to quit because you won’t make it anyway.

People will always tell you you can’t, it is up to you to believe them or not.

People who do not want to work at something or think something is very hard will tell you the same thing because they do not want you to succeed.  They try to plant it in your head that you might as well not even try because it is too hard, not that they have even tried they just know it is going to be work, and who wants to work hard for something.  A good quote is “people often miss out on success because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work”.  I don’t know who said it but I love it.  The following story is true.  One kid I worked with who was an average high school baseball player told another kid I worked with who was an all-state ball player and went on to play division 1 “If I worked as hard as you did then I would be better than you”.  I am still trying to figure this one out, it has puzzled me for almost 5 years now.  If you know you can be good at something why wouldn’t you work at it.  This kid would not have been as good, because at one point he did work as hard and couldn’t catch up, so instead of admitting that, he simply quit working so he could make a statement nobody could prove otherwise.

I had a dream of playing professional baseball just like other kids, it consumed my every thought.  I also had a lot of people telling me that I could not even play college ball, I should just worry about getting into a good school.  I could have listened and went into a great major just like you can but I decided to dream and put that dream into action just like I hope you do.

First of all, in order to get into school to play ball you are going to have to have good grades so you can get into a good college and play baseball.  Second of all you will learn discipline and hard work if you are pursuing such a dream.  People will laugh at you and they will tell you that you have no shot, you are too small, too slow, and if you are not those they will find something you are too much of.  Some people tell you to let it go in one ear and out the other, I say let it go in one hear and straight to your motivation center.  You can use this negativity as fuel, let it burn, and let it hurt, because this will only drive you.  Use all of these statements to give you the extra push you need, because it is hard enough to make it in the first place, but if you listen and believe, it will be impossible.  You have to hear it, let it soak in, and then let it give you the boost to get one more squat in, 50 more swings, or 20 more sprints.  If you want to make it big you will have to overcome adversity so you might as well start now.  Don’t run from these people or their comments, don’t hide from them, use them to power you through the hard times. Not to say I told you so or get revenge when you make it, but just to simply push you harder.  If you believe them and quit you will set a trend for your life, but you can set the opposite trend by working hard even when the odds are stacked against you and loving this negativity.  Sounds stupid, love negativity, why would I do that?  There are two reasons, one is to push you and the other is to balance out all the positives from your close friends and family that could make you lazy or complacent.

There were three things that drove me in my quest and maybe they can help you as well.  First was the naysayers who drove me by giving me fuel in the form of negativity, second was my family who drove me through their positivity.  It made me work harder because I did not want to let them down.  Third, and most important was ME, in this case (you).  I could not handle the thought of losing because I didn’t try, I could not handle the thought of not making it because I was scared, and I could not handle the thought of letting myself down day in and day out.  Remember when you are brushing your teeth at night the only people in the room are you and the guy in the mirror.  Do you look at him and say we did it, or do you look in the sink because you are afraid of what he is going to say to you.

Pursue your dreams.