THIS WEEK'S MOTIVATIONAL PIECE

Greetings!


HERE IS THIS WEEK’S SPECIAL PIECE …

A story that defies all odds! If you’re following the National Football League, one of the biggest storylines so far from the pre-season is the amazing play of Seattle rookie QB Russell Wilson. He was supposed to be coming to camp to basically battle it out for the third spot on the team’s depth chart.

He arrived as an unheralded third round draft pick – actually the 8th quarterback taken overall in the 2012 NFL Draft. With that, the Seahawks’ management would pay him a contract for $357,000 above the collective bargained rookie wage scale at $390K.

Upon reporting to camp, Wilson’s main competition to get out onto the field would be Matt Flynn, who only was the Seahawks’ prized free agent acquisition this past off-season. The same Matt Flynn who was Aaron Rodgers’ understudy in Green Bay for the last four years, who came to Seattle with a Super Bowl ring in hand, owner of the Packers’ all-time single game club record for most passing yards and someone whom Seattle rewarded to the tune of a fresh new $26-million dollar contract! Yet, Wilson’s play was so dominating in the exhibition games that the Seahawks’ coaching staff made a surprise choice to hand an unproven rookie the reigns as the team’s starting QB to open the season.

Those of you with me on Facebook for quite some time may recall that I wrote a piece on Wilson last November. I thought he was worthy of NFL stardom then and for sure Heisman Trophy merits, his talents were that obvious. Yet, the NFL Scouts, however, all labeled the Wisconsin QB as an undersized prospect at 5’-11” (for his position) and someone they saw as having accuracy issues.

Said Seahawks’ Coach Pete Carroll after watching Wilson’s play out on the field in recent weeks: “Russell’s height is not even a factor. What is a factor is that he is so elusive and shows great sense. I've watched our team respond to him and they've taken to his leadership style. He is so prepared. He doesn’t seem like a first-year player. He seems like he’s been around. He gets it. He doesn’t do anything but the right thing in all of his work.”

If you’re ever wondering about the power of the mind, the belief in one’s self and to be prepared for when you get that OPPORTUNITY to perform … let Russell Wilson be that example to follow! Here is a player that also had the skills to play professional baseball (while in college) for the Asheville Tourists, a development team of the Colorado Rockies. I assume most of you can attest to the incredible demands of playing a major D-1 sport (especially football with the abundance of practice and film time needed). On top of playing athletically, Wilson decided to tack on a heavy course load commitment in the process so he could graduate from North Carolina State in THREE YEARS! That alone shows me Wilson has the resolve, intelligence, discipline and dedication to thrive and excel in his athletic profession.

Don’t ever let a Scouting Report or a Draft Round hold you back fellas! Said Wilson after he defied all odds and literally stunned the NFL world: "I refuse to be average. I refuse to be good. All I want to do is work to excel every day."

Hope all is well for you! Keep believing in you and stay focused on your career dreams! Have fun and enjoy the weekend ahead!

My best always!

Jim Loria

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RUSSELL WILSON CREDITS MUCH OF HIS INSPIRATION TO GOSPEL MUSIC. One of his favorite motivational messages he takes to the field everyday comes from these lyrics performed in the song “I’m Going To Be Ready” (by Yolanda Adams).

“Sight beyond what I see,
You know what’s best for me,
Prepare my mind, prepare my heart,
For whatever comes, I’m gonna be ready.”

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“So many of our dreams at first seem impossible, then they seem improbable, and then, when we summon the will, they soon become inevitable” - stated by an Unknown Author

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“Concentrate on the factors you have control over: Persistence, Self-Discipline, and Confidence. Far more failures are due to lack of WILL than lack of ability” – stated by Terry Bradshaw, NFL Hall of Famer, 4x Super Bowl Champion QB and NFL Fox TV Pre-Game Show Host.

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ALABAMA COLLEGE FOOTBALL COACH NICK SABAN ON WINS AND CHAMPIONSHIPS: “It’s the process that’s most important. Concentrate on the steps to success rather than worrying about the end result. Instead of thinking about the scoreboard, think about dominating the man on the opposite side of the line of scrimmage. Instead of thinking about a conference title, think about finishing a ninth rep in the weight room.”

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Jim Loria
E-Mail: loria@sfstampede.com