“Well play right, Shawn. Or don’t play at all.”
— Henry Spencer, Psych, “Speak Now or Forever Hold Your Piece”

I tell my kids that they don’t have to be the best player, but I expect them to play harder than anyone else on the field. I expect them to give 100% effort in every game and on every play. I expect them to practice so hard that the real games seem easy.

Some amazing things happen when you have this attitude. You get better and better. The challenges get easier and easier. You earn the respect of coaches, teammates, opponents, and fans. You have more fun.

The alternative is that you don’t give your best effort. What happens then? Don’t complain about the results if you don’t put in the work.

Now apply this to the rest of your life. No, you don’t need your heart rate at 200 BPM all day long. Even intense practices and workouts have introductory stretching, water breaks, and cooldown periods. You need the equivalent in your daily work. You need to get quality sleep. You need to take some breaks. You need to read books, hang out with friends, and meditate.

But, are you practicing? Are you studying? Are you developing your skills? Are you trying to be a little bit better each day? Or are you just going through the motions?

Remember: Passion follows effort.