It's difficult for me to imagine that Shaquille O'Neal ever thought he couldn't be a star on the basketball court, but he says that was once true. I've often heard Shaq tell this story about his mother: “I said, 'I can't do that right now. Maybe later.'

 

Then my mother said the words that changed everything for me. She said, 'Later doesn't always come to everybody.' Those words snapped me into reality and gave me a plan. You work hard now. You don't wait.”

 

People today want to know they're going to be rewarded before they're willing to do any work. Talk about putting the cart before the horse!

 

Henry David Thoreau said, “Success usually comes to those who are too busy to be looking for it.”

 

If you don't start working toward your goals, if you don't follow through and put in the time and effort, your goals are only wishes. Whether it is baby steps or leaps and bounds, if you work hard everyday you will be far down the path to your success.

 

By Pat Williams, senior vice president of the NBA’s Orlando Magic and one of America’s best-known sports executives. He drafted Charles Barkley and Shaquille O’Neal, and 12 of his former players have become NBA head coaches. He is the author of 40 books and a devoted father to 19 children. E-mail him at pwilliams@orlandomagic.com, or visit patwilliamsmotivate.com.