Inadequacy
How many times in life have you felt inadequate? How often have you sensed deep down that you didn't really have what it took to make it? How frequently have you found yourself short of confidence?
We can probably all answer these questions with many instances springing from our memory. We can all quickly recall incidents and moments when we were embarrassed, fell short, and just didn't make the cut.
Additionally, how many times in your life have you had others dragging you down, telling you that you weren't good enough, and betting against you?
Again, I'll bet we can all think of instances when this was the case.
Let's take it further.
How often have experts and official commentators given testimony to your shortcomings and thereby added credible fuel to the engine of your self doubts?
Case Study
Imagine being a college football quarterback of average size and dimension. Imagine determining that you wanted to play in the NFL no matter what, even if it meant having to change positions. Even if it meant having to break onto a team as not much more than a practice squad player with the possible chance to play some special teams? Even if it meant they would even stick you in as a defensive back to fill the gap where there had been many injuries?
Currently one of my favorite football players is Julian Edelman of the New England Patriots, and the prospects I've outlined above were his. A quarterback at Kent State in college, he made the pros with an undefined future, most teams not even sure what to do with him. The New England Patriots, well known as creative re-assigners of players to new positions, took a chance on him. Even so, his prospects of actually making it on the team, much less becoming a starter, much less becoming the practical runner-up for MVP of the Super Bowl, were extremely slim.
One of Edelman's best friends told a reporter, "Julian's line for people who doubt him is always this: 'Bet against me!'"
Once again the old adage of "It's not the size of the man in the fight, but the size of the fight in the man!" comes true.
May this video be a source of motivation to anyone who's ever been told they were too small, too unusual, or even in the words of the official draft report on Edelman, too much of a "gimmick."
When in such a position, there are only two things you can do . . .
Sincerely,
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