The Icredibles
January 23, 2009
Napoleon Hill says that desire is the starting point of all achievement, not a hope, not a wish, but a keen pulsating desire that transcends everything. Passion for excellence is what distinguishes the achiever from the mediocre. The little spark of inspiration is what ultimately leads to success in each of our endeavors.This passion drives you to hitch your wagon to the star, to strive relentlessly towards your goal and finally revel in its glory. Your passion for perfection will make success a way of life. For people having that spark, the sky is not the limit, but only the beginning.
With his recent success against Federer in the greatest tennis match ever played at the last Wimbledon final, Rafael Nadal shattered notions of his adversary’s invincibility. Although it took a long, hard and rain-interrupted battle, Nadal left legends impressed finally claiming the well-deserved winner’s cup. Fellow player Marat Safin believes that “To beat Federer you need to be Nadal and run around like a rabbit and hit winners from all over the place.” Surely there’s a lot of hard work behind all those remarkable aces and even his enviable fitness.
So what makes the 22-year old Spaniard a match for the indestructible Roger Federer?
Some argue it’s his fitness and agility, some assert it to be his powerful and animated shots on court, but I believe it’s his passion and perseverance that took him to the zenith. Born in Mallorca in Spain, Rafael Nadal is a living example of how will power, hard work and skill in sync with a desire for perfection and precision can make all the difference. Rafael Nadal turned pro in 2001 and has been nearly unbeatable since, giving his opponents a reason to fret. The 6′1″ left-handed player with a double-handed backhand has also proved his mettle at the French Opens for the last four years, winning all of the singles titles he has played. His achievements, according to Wikipedia, “have led some to regard Nadal as the greatest clay-court player in the history in the sport.”
Michael Jordan, similarly considered the God of Basketball, confesses that “I can accept failure, everyone fails at something. But I can’t accept not trying.” And it doesn’t stop at trying for Air Jordan; he tried and persisted until he got his shots perfect. His mind-boggling dunks and three-pointers is his reward for the endless hours he spent sweating during practices. In his own words, “Success isn’t something you chase. It’s something you have to put forth the effort for constantly. Then maybe it’ll come when you least expect it.”
‘Invincible’ sportsmen like Roger Federer, Michael Schumacher or Tiger Woods are not super human; rather they are mere mortals with a very strong passion for excellence. This passion translates to hours of perspiration to attain the immaculate perfection that they enthrall us with.
This is what makes them incredible.
