Motivation

“JUMPIN FOR JOY”

When I was in the 11th grade, I could not touch the backboard. Every single day in gym class I would sprint from the 3 point line, take 2 steps and jump as high as I could, only to reach the net. It was frustrating because all of my friends could touch the glass with ease. I thought to myself, if I keep working hard enough, one day I’ll be able to touch the backboard. So one day as we were doing layups in our pre-game warm ups, I decided I would stretch for an extra 15 minutes and do a few toe raises before I hit the court. I’ll never forget what happened next. I was on the right side of the layup line standing a few steps in front of half court. My teammate passed me the ball to do my layup next. I took 2 dribbles and 2 steps then exploded up as high as I possibly could for the layup. All of sudden I felt something I had never felt before when doing a layup. My hand had skimmed the bottom of the backboard as I glided in to make the layup. When I landed on the ground I couldn’t believe what had just happened. You would have thought that I had just hit the game winning shot as I started to celebrate with a fist pump. It was from that day on I learned a life lesson. If you keep working at something, eventually you will reach your goal. #PatTheRocMotivation

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“REPETITION IS KEY”

When I was in the 7th grade I remember waking up 5am in the morning so I could get to school extra early. Why? Well my mom was a teacher at the school and she had the key to the gym. So 6am I’d be in the gym with a basketball in my hand and a smile on my face! My mom was teaching me a life lesson at an early age. If you want to be great at something, you have to be willing to do what others won’t do. I had to sacrifice staying up late, and promised to do my homework as soon as I got home in the evenings, so I get to bed on time. That way I could wake up early the next morning and hit the gym. There was one rule my mom had for me when I hit the gym in the mornings. I was only allowed to shoot free-throws because she didn’t want me running around getting my outfit sweaty before school. I had no clue that this free-throw rule would be the greatest benefit of my career. As my mom rebounded for me shot after shot, it was official, I was becoming a sharp shooter! I saw all of my hard work translating into the games. Whether I was open or had defense in my face, I was going to hit the shot, because of the repetition I had put in with my mom. So fast forward 15 years later and I end up in a game aired on MTV, national television. No time left on the clock, I get fouled and head to the free-throw line for 1 shot to win the game. As the crowd makes noise to distract me I take a moment to reflect. I thought to myself, no pressure, I have done this a million times. The least I can do is make this free-throw for my mom. Same routine, around the waste once, one dribble and spin the ball back. Bend your knees, elbow in and eye on the target. Release. Swish! Game over. #PatTheRocMotivation

 

“MO CREEK, PUTTING IN MO(RE) WORK!”

My mission as a mentor is to inspire the athletes I train on and off the court. One particular player that I have been working with the past 3 years is George Washington’s senior shooting guard, Mo Creek. Despite the many obstacles he has faced in the past 3 years, Mo has turned his story of adversity into a relentless quest to be the best.

Mo attended Indiana University for 3 years where he suffered two knee injuries, resulting in two surgeries, and two basketball seasons absent from the court. Though Mo could not play his sophomore and junior seasons, he did not become discouraged. He used it as motivation to prove all of the coaches, fans, and media that he would return to his old self.

Mo would text/call me assuring that his chance was coming. So in the summer we hit the gym hard. Working on ball-handling, game moves, and the art of developing an OUTWORK mentality. Upon the start of the 2013 school year, Mo transferred to George Washington University for his senior season. Mo averaged double digits the first few games proving that “Anything Is Possible” when you work hard and never give up. Already hitting one of the biggest shots of his career in a GW uniform, Mo knocked down the game winner against the hometown rival Maryland Terps.

His story has inspired many to believe that “Before Success, is Failure.” For Mo, this is only the beginning. I can assure you he is in the gym getting up jumpshots as you are reading this!