We all have moments that change our lives forever. These can range from tragic events to moments where you are so awestruck that you are speechless. 1997 Game 5 of the NBA finals is a moment that left me awestruck. It has become known as the Michael Jordan Flu Game. I’m a huge MJ fan! I had heard stories of John Elway or Troy Aikman playing with concussions, winning games they don’t remember. This was the first time I had seen anything like those stories. I remember crying very hard starting at half time and continuing through the end of the game. I was watching greatness become personified and immortalized. I kept asking myself the following question:
“How can anyone train their entire being to be a winner, so that even if your are mentally out of it, everything kicks in to win?”
What kicks in after the choice is made? On my flight home yesterday, I read the following poem in Dave Ramsey’s book “Financial Peace Revisited.” I could not have aptly answered the above question. For 12 years, I’ve endeavored to make the wisdom below work for me. The author is unknown, but I hope you get as much out of it as I did.
I am your constant companion I am your greatest helper or your heaviest burden. I will push you onward or drag you down to failure. I am at your command. Half of the tasks that you do you might just as well turn over to me and I will do them quickly and correctly. I am easily managed, You must merely be firm with me. Show me exactly how you want something done; After a few lessons I will do it automatically. I am the servant of all great people and alas of all failures as well. Those who are great I have made great, those who are failures I have made failures. I am not a machine, but I work with all the precision of a machine, plus the intelligence of a person. Now you may run me for profit or you may run me for ruin. It makes no difference to me. Take me, train me, be firm with me, And I will lay the world at your feet. Be easy with me and I will destroy you. Who am I? I am called Habit.