99.8% of athletes never play professionally.

I’ve spent hours studying the .2% who do.

Here’s what I learned:

Stay in the present.

“When you focus on the past, that’s your ego.

When I focus on the future, it’s my pride.

Focus on the moment, in the present. That’s humility.”

Make your own luck.

“Luck has nothing to do with it.

I have spent countless hours on the court working for my one moment in time, not knowing when it would come.” — Serena Williams

Hard work + talent leads to opportunity.

Skill comes from hours and hours of work.

Love this from Usain Bolt:

“Easy is not an option...

Talent you have naturally, but skill is only developed by hours and hours of work.”

But, by itself, working hard will not get you ahead.

Focusing your time and effort effectively is much more likely to make you successful.

Example: Leo Messi walks 83% of a soccer game.

The other 17% makes him the best player in the world.