Are You Ready for the Journey?

My son began his hockey journey at the tender age of three. I vividly recall him learning to balance on skates by pushing a chair across the ice. At that time, I never imagined how far he would go.

This weekend, I watched him score a hat trick at the Goggin Ice Center in Oxford, Ohio—a remarkable venue for a 17-year-old. It seems like just yesterday I was lacing up his little skates for those early morning games.

Reflecting on the years, I realized that my son's commitment to hockey had grown deeper. My weekends now revolved around his hockey schedule, and the sport had become a significant part of our lives.

In our conversations, I often questioned whether he loved hockey enough to chase a professional career. Admittedly, I harbored doubts about such a path.

Statistics have always intrigued me. The likelihood of making it to the top tiers of any sport is slim. While pursuing professional athletics is a noble ambition, the odds are not in favor of most.

I raised this topic with him not to crush his dreams, but to prepare him for the arduous journey ahead. Only a small fraction of NCAA athletes transition to professional sports, requiring immense dedication.

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Let Go of Your Safety Net

The thought of my son facing failure made me anxious, prompting me to shield him from the harsh realities of life.

Isn’t it amusing how we try to shield our children from the fears we ourselves face? Who are we really protecting—our children or our own egos?

This introspection led me to realize that I had been giving him misguided advice all along. While having a fallback plan can be practical, it can also foster self-doubt.

When we entertain the idea of failure, our minds may inadvertently seek to validate that belief. Thus, having a Plan B can undermine our chances of success, as it plants seeds of doubt in our subconscious.

If you are aiming for something extraordinary, shouldn’t failure be the last thing on your mind? The loftiest goals are only attainable if we genuinely believe they can be reached.

Focusing on a backup plan diverts precious energy away from your main objective.

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Doubt can easily flourish if we let it. You may not actively think about it, but it lurks beneath the surface. Don’t give your doubts the nourishment they need to thrive.

Planning for a backup takes valuable time and resources that could be spent perfecting your primary goal. By splitting your focus, you risk achieving mediocrity in both areas.

For years, I misled my son with poor advice. Instead of suggesting he prepare for potential setbacks in his hockey career, I should have urged him to commit fully: “If you’re going for it, go all in!”

Fortunately, my son didn’t need my guidance in this regard. Witnessing his thrilling journey has been a true pleasure. He has embraced every moment, and his commitment has yielded results.

Who knew that a father could find so much joy in being mistaken?

In this video, we explore the journey of athletes who succeeded against the odds, reminding us that commitment can lead to extraordinary achievements.

This video discusses the importance of unwavering focus in achieving your goals, emphasizing that doubt can hinder success.