Building Your Best Future

I recently had the honor of speaking to the Agricultural Economics department at my alma mater, Kansas State University. When I speak to young people at colleges around the country, it’s like I get an opportunity to put myself in their shoes, to share my journey in a way that someone who is just starting out their adulthood can relate to and hopefully be inspired by.

I’ve been through a lot of obstacles and challenges, and the thing common thread in getting past these hurdles has always been to put my best effort out there. It’s true in your studies, it’s true in sports, and any business person worth his or her salt will tell you that that’s the only way value is created in the business world.

Keep Your Focus

But do you know what happens to most of us? We start down that path, and then we get distracted from our goals. For some of us it’s just a lack of focus about why we’re doing what we do. For others, it’s the distractions that come with life, whether from parties, mindless entertainment or personal drama that does nothing for them.

When I’m working with athletes, there is another truth that is clear: if you can excel ‘on the field’, you can excel in life. Don’t get me wrong…that’s not to say that the best athletes are the best people. It DOES mean that when you find a way to make commitments and see them through (as athletes must), then you are developing a valuable tool that can be used again and again in the service of improving your life.

After all, what are commitments? They’re moments of decision or choice that move us in a certain direction. When we guide ourselves through positive commitments, we shape our destiny. This will be true throughout your entire life – it’s never to late to “course correct.” However, it is most critical at college, because that is when you lay the foundation for the rest of your life. Your career, your habits, the people you surround yourself with…this is preparation for your life ahead.

Stuck? Get Un-Stuck!

If you find yourself at a point where you need to fix something, stop and reflect on where you’re steering your life. And make the most of each day, taking one day at a time, and improving over the previous day to get the results you want.