In the vibrant streets of my city, achieving excellence wasn’t just a goal; it was a way of life. For me, baseball wasn’t just a sport; it was a ticket to success.
I fixated on mastering the game, aiming to become the standout hitter in the entire region. But becoming the best required more than talent; it demanded relentless dedication.
Driven by an inner fire, I embarked on a solitary journey of rigorous training. For two years, I poured my heart and soul into refining my skills, pushing myself to the limit with every swing of the bat.
But why did a young athlete commit to such an arduous path alone? Because deep within, I recognized that true greatness stemmed from personal initiative.
Yet, this understanding seemed confined to the realm of athletics. In other aspects of life, I defaulted to external blame. I held teachers responsible for academic challenges, attributed financial constraints to external circumstances, and blamed mentors for business setbacks. My happiness relied on external change, not personal action.
It took nearly three decades to shatter this illusion. Around the age of thirty, the truth dawned on me: success is a direct result of effort, irrespective of the domain.
I came to realize that there’s more than one kind of “push-up” in life. Just as in sports, where personal effort is paramount, the same principle holds true in every facet of existence.
In embracing personal accountability, I unearthed a profound revelation: to excel, I must take ownership of my actions and do my own push-ups.
