WWW.TOTHENEXTLEVEL.ORG

Success

by Doug Reese TTNL

Orel Herschiser pitched an unbelievable 1988 season for the Los Angles Dodgers. After a complete game shutout in August, Herschiser pitched multiple shutout innings, then hurled five more complete games through the end of the regular season. Herschiser did not allow his opponents to score an earned run in 59 consective innings!

When the Dodgers faced the New York Mets in the National League playoffs, Orel continued to dominate hitters, leading the Dodgers to victory by pitching more than 24 innings. The crowning moment came when Herschiser threw a complete game shutout in the final National League Championship Series game.

In the World Series, Herschiser threw a complete game victory over the Oakland A's to win the series in five games. It was no suprise that Herschiser was awarded the Cy Young award as the best pitcher in the National League. He also was awarded the Most Valuable Player award for both the National League Championship Series and the World Series.

During the playoffs, the TV cameras zoomed in on this Hall of Famer in the making. The cameras caught Herschiser in the dugout between innings singing softly to himself. Unable to make out the tune, the TV announcers merely commented that Herschiser's success on the pitching mound gave him something to sing about.

Athletic Principle

While success is something that every athlete wants, it also creates an entirely new set of pressures and problems. Not every athlete who achieves success can handle it well.

When you reach to top and gain the title of # 1, everybody starts gunning for you. With every competition, with every opportunity there will be someone trying to knock you off the top of the ladder. Sometimes there are struggling teams or individuals who try to define their whole season by defeating a "champion."

Many successful teams and coaches will tell you that "it is easier to climb the mountain, than to stay on top." Stepping into the spotlight creates many expectations. These expectations continue to add pressure and stress to both the coaches and the athletes in the program - some of which are unrealistic.

Victory and success, is an overwhelming feeling. The greatest danger success brings in to an athletes life is pride. Slowly but surely pride goes from one's heart to one's head. This transformation is the beginning of "the fall" from the mountain. It is important to be a gracious winner. Keep your words in check. Praise your coaches, praise your teammates, praise your competition, but don't praise yourself. Be humble.

There are too many athletes today who talk trash about their coach, teammates, and opponents - then tell the world how great they are. Flee from those thoughts! Your primary role is to perform to the best of your abilities, not report the story to the world. Self-praise is for losers. Be humble and gracious in both victory and defeat.

The most important thing to do after winning is to get back to work. Tiger Woods with a huge lead in the 2000 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach was up at 5:30 in the morning practicing before his afternoon round. Tiger is never satisfied with any of his accomplishments, he is continually striving to improve each and every day.

Even in victory, be critical and look for where you can make improvements, where you made mistakes. Why? To avoid making them again in the future. Never be completely satisfied - keep searching for ways to improve!

The key to continued success is to immediately analyze your performance. If you do this you will stand a much better chance of staying on top as a champion.

"If one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live a life he's imagined, he will meet with success unexpected in common hours." Henry David Thoreau

God's Performance Principle

"Being successful is nice, but it doesn't bring you happiness. Loving God and studying the Bible, that does." Tom Lehman - PGA Golfer, British Open Champion

One of the greatest promises in the Bible that assures success if we follow God is found in Psalms, chapter one:

"Oh, the joys of those who do not follow evil men's advice, who do not hang around with sinners, scoffing at the things of God: But they delight in doing everything God wants them to do, and day and night are always mediatating on his laws and thinking about ways to follow him more closely. They are like trees along a river bank bearing luscious fruit each season without fail. Their leaves shall never wither, and all they do shall prosper." (Psalm 1:1-3)

God promises success for those who delight in following him! If we can make God's way, our way, then we shall have success in all that we do! That is our challenge, to pick up our cross and follow him. It seems simple, but it is a tough road to travel. Where we fail is when we decide to do things our own way. God's game plan is to follow his lead. When we start calling our own plays, that is when we start struggling in life. His plan for us is clear cut - it is a path to lasting victory.

Following the world series, Orel Herschiser was invited on the "Tonight Show." The host asked Herschiser what song he had been singing during the game when he was caught in the dugout by the national TV cameras, and if Orel would sing it again right then and there. The audience roared its approval over Herschiser's embarrased reluctance.

So on national TV, Herschiser sang the tune TV crews had barely caught on tape:

"Praise God from whom all blessings flow. Praise Him all creature here below; Praise Him above ye heavenly host, Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Amen."

Orel Herschiser was simply doing what Christians do - praising God for everything that he'd achieved. Paul urges the Colossians, "Whatever you do...do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." (Colossians 3:17). Not only at church, but throughout your day thank God not only for your gifts and talents, but for all your successes - he gave them to you.

"When his master saw the Lord was with him and that the Lord gave him success in everything he did." (Genesis 39:3)

"Then you will have success if you are careful to observe the decrees and laws that the Lord gave Moses for Israel. Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or discouraged." (2 Chronicles 20:20)

"He sought God during the days of Zechariah, who instructed him in fear of God. As long as he sought the Lord, God gave him success." (2 Chronicles 26:5)