The Tebow Effect

“It’s like stepping up to the plate, bottom of the 9^th, and hitting a grand slam…four games in a row! That’s how rare, special, and unsustainable this is.”

The panel of experts on ESPN had spent the past 4 minutes talking about the most recent efforts by Denver Broncos’ quarterback, Tim Tebow. No one could explain it, everyone had an opinion, but Mike Ditka summed it up best with the grand slam analogy. This was special.

Tebow had started five games in a row and had engineered…no, that’s not right… WILLED his team to a comeback victory in the last four games. The sporting world was completely buzzing about it, which means there were just as many people marveling over the accomplishments as there were cynics who wanted to tear it all down. Some jumped on the bandwagon and others jumped off, but one thing seemed to stay the same…

Tim Tebow.

This kid was as unflappable and sincere from one interview to the next. More importantly, he was himself in every instance. Here’s where our lesson starts…

The first time I heard of Tebow was in 2005, when he won the award for most outstanding high school quarterback in the nation, according to the National Quarterback Club. He was a big, smiling, well-spoken kid and I didn’t think much about it.

Over the next few years I followed his career at the University of Florida where he won two national championships, a Heisman trophy, and respect of millions of people. Through it all, he was himself. What does that mean and how can it apply to our daily path to success?

To be himself means that he isn’t thrown back and forth by what the world deems as successful or failing. He determines what each event means and can respond accordingly, consistent with his character. This kind of freedom clears out the pretense and apprehension so many struggle with daily when they worry about who they should be for those around them. Tim Tebow is free to step forward without the baggage to slow him down.

So how can we be ourselves, learning from Tim’s example? Through the years of watching him as best I could in the public eye, there are a few things that you learn and count on. Here they are.

1. Find your foundation. First, Tim is a Christian. Everything he does, says, or thinks comes from that foundation. His conviction shows through in everything because he doesn’t separate who is from what he does. If you stripped away your profession, possessions, and all other titles…who would you be? That’s your foundation.

2. Follow your call. From the time he entered high school all the way up to being drafted in the NFL, coaches tried to type-cast Tebow as something other than a quarterback. His body type was too big and strong to be a quarterback they thought. Tim knew in his heart that he wanted to be a quarterback and never relented from that desire. The desires of your heart are there by design to guide to the best use of your gifts and talents. Trust your design.

3. Work hard. Tebow is a maniac with his work ethic. As the youngest of five, he was always competing and finding ways to win. His workout results were legendary at Florida and nothing has changed. There is no doubt that he will come back better next season than this. He won’t settle for anything less. When you know who you are, how hard are you willing to work to be the absolute best you possibly can?

By finding your foundation, you can weather the storms and critics. As you follow your call you will find an energy and purpose most are afraid of, which makes you unique. With hard work, you will separate your abilities into a level that brings unshakeable confidence. It’s that combination that makes it fun and rewarding to always bring yourself to the party. No one else will do.

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PJ McClure helps aspiring entrepreneurs to multi-million dollar business owners destroy roadblocks and seize opportunities to achieve their ideal vision of success. He is an award-winning speaker and the best-selling author of Flip the SWITCH: How to Turn On and Turn Up Your Mindset and Unlock Your Life: How to go beyond Time-Management to the Life of Your Dreams. You can download a copy of Flip the SWITCH for Free by clicking here.