Earning Victories the Hard Way

After taking the 11th seeded George Mason University Patriots to the Final Four in Indianapolis, Coach Jim Larranaga shared a quote from William Jennings Bryant, "Destiny is not a matter of chance; it is a matter of choice." He went on to say, "Victories aren't given to you; you earn them. You have to earn respect. No one is going to give it to you." After many felt that George Mason had not warranted the 11th seed they received, they went on to beat the two past NCAA Champions, Connecticut and North Carolina.

You may not be into basketball, but this lesson on motivation applies to us all. Those waiting to be given respect, might best get busy earning it. With maturity, you will find that even these victories will not make them a favorite in the eyes of many basketball "experts" when they face the 3rd seeded Florida Gators. They will still be the underdog.

Maybe life is less about seeking the respect of others, but earning your own self-respect. They believed they could win, and they have. It would be hard to bet against them, because they do believe.