Success

          This cross-country season, after a hard workout, the team was informed that our coach had passed away at his house while we were running. It was a devastating shock to our team, and we all miss him. My coach was an ex-navy seal, and knew a lot about life. Right before he left, he passed out a sheet about success. I read the sheet, and it is really a great guide to achieving success. This is what the sheet said:

True success is rare. It's tough to come by, and difficult to maintain. But here is a formula you can use to help your chances in any of life's endeavors.

1) Discover your passion. This is the easy part-but also the most important. Follow your heart. What do you enjoy doing? What are your interests? What are your goals?
2) Discover and map out EVERY step you will need to take to achieve excellence in this area. What do the real pros in this field do to reach the top of the mountain?
3) Be willing to work twice as hard as you think you will have to in order to achieve your goals. It probably will be.
4) Pick yourself up after the inevitable hiccups along the way.
5) Be tough.
6) Don't quit-unless you have honestly determined that by doing so, it serves the greater good for the greatest number of dynamics in your life.
7) Keep your eye on the goal. This is perhaps the most important factor in ultimately achieving your goal.
8) When you come to a fork in the road-take the way less traveled. Challenge yourself. It takes courage to be great. And then find the time to help someone else while you're on your way.
9) Realize that at the end of the day, the person whose face you see in the mirror will often be your harshest critic. So, don't forget to be your own best friend.
10) Make yourself proud. You can't change the past, but there is always the future. Make it a good one. It's entirely up to you! 

I hope this guide will help all of us achieve success, whether it be in the workplace or with our family. I have tried to use this guide in my life, and, while it is hard, I have achieved a little more than I would have.