Hustle Case Study = learning from other’s situations – good, bad and ugly.
Hustle Case Study #2 is about putting yourself in the best position possible to effectively capture the benefits of opportunities presented to you.
The motivation for this case study comes from the recent headlines of Michael Vick being named as the starting quarterback of the Philadelphia Eagles; one season after being picked up as a free agent, from prison.
Disclaimer: due to the inhumane nature of Vick’s crime (dog fighting), I have no expectations for you to respect his journey. I do assure you that I’m not promoting Michael Vick in this article; I’m simply sharing my take on the roller coaster he’s been on over the past few years – reaching rock bottom and now in the midst of regaining a level of success. There’s an important message here, so please proceed. Controversial subjects are not dodged at HustlersNotebook.com; for learning can be captured from anything if looked at from the right angle.
A Summary of Michael Vick’s Story in chronological, bulleted format:
•1999-2000 → College football accolades include: Archie Griffin Award winner, 2 year Heisman candidate (voted 3rd and 6th)
•2001-2006 → NFL accolades include: 3 Pro Bowl selections in his six years in playing with the Atlanta Falcons, 2003 ESPY selection for “Best NFL Player”
•2007 (August) → Suspended from the NFL for his participation in the barbaric underworld of dog fighting
•2007 (December) → began sentence for federal dog fighting charges and served just under two years in prison
•2008 (July) → filed for bankruptcy
•2009 (May) → released from prison
•2009 (August) → signed a contract with Philadelphia Eagles in a 3rd string quarterback role
•2010 (September) → named starting quarterback of the Eagles
Summary of Notes
- Lost a high level of success
- Hit rock bottom
- Change of attitude
- New Opportunity taken
From my hustler’s perspective, I see this story as a classic example of making personal adjustments to obtain a sought after outcome. If you’re not happy with your results, you must change your actions to better align with whatever you want. We can take this directly from Michael Vick’s story. He spent almost two years in prison, and lost his financial fortune because of his actions. We’re all subject to make terrible decisions (hopefully never like Vick’s), but we’re also all subject to overcome them, if we change our actions.
Vick finished the 2009 season as he started, a 3rd string quarterback. However, during the season he was able to show progress and prove that he was willing to work hard to regain his status as a respected NFL quarterback. During the off season the Eagles’ then starting quarterback, Donovan McNabb was traded to the Washington Redskins, bumping Vick from a 3rd to 2nd string role. Vick started the 2010 season as a backup…but opportunity quickly knocked, and when it did, he seized it.
Put Yourself in the Best Position Possible
Before I cover how he seized the opportunity that was presented to him, let me first tell you how he positioned himself in a way to effectively make the most of his options.
Michael Vick is a naturally gifted quarterback – no questions about that. But after missing two seasons of football, he was labeled as washed-out, and defamed as never being able to reclaim his once “elite” abilities.
After the McNabb trade, the door of opportunity opened halfway. When McNabb’s predecessor, Kevin Kolb, got injured in the first game, the door of opportunity swung open full pitch for Vick. Vick had already shown that he had regained his ability to be an effective quarterback, but when he was called to the field, he was able to prove it by leading the team to 2 victories; which lead him to being named as the starting quarterback.
In August 2009, when Vick was picked up by the Eagles, Philadelphia fans were more than disgruntled, they were flat out enraged that the organization made a decision to pick up the once glorious quarterback turned convict as a free agent. Presently, The Philadelphia Inquirer conducted a poll which showed an 80% “in-support vote” of Vick being the best quarterback option to help the Eagles win.
Putting yourself in the best position possible increases your ability to maximize your results and achieve whatever you desire. Putting yourself in the best position encompasses multiple factors including (but certainly not limited to): working to be best and setting the standard in which others are judged by; working more efficiently than the competition - creating more production while using minimal resources; upholding a self-brand; and operating under your own set of core values.
When you put yourself in the best position and an opportunity is presented to you → you increase your chances of advancement.
When Opportunity Knocks – Seize it!
We’re often confronted with opportunity that we fail to extend energy to. Remember, giving half-effort gets you half-results. So, it’s in your favor to execute with overpowering excessiveness to obtain excessive results. Opportunities come at random times; for reasons beyond your own actions, but if you take proper action – you acquire the lasting benefits.
Opportunity is a chance for advancement or progress. It’s a situation or condition favorable for the attainment of a goal.
In many cases opportunities will be presented to for reasons outside of your own efforts; they simply fall into your lap because of someone else’s decision, or indecision. However, taking advantage of these situations requires your action; so seize the opportunities.
Closing Comments
We’re all imperfect and subjected to making bad decisions. In fact, you may be in the downward slope of the roller coaster ride as you read this article. Know that you have the power to regain, or claim success by changing your actions and taking on opportunities with a vengeance. Taking an action with nonchalance will get you minimal results. Be deliberate in your approach and execute with the goal of advancement. It’s not often we get opportunity handed to us, but it does happen…so when it does, overwhelm it, capture it…SEIZE IT.
Don’t allow the fear of failure to hogtie your ability to achieve. Go all out with a hustler’s intensity and learn from the obstacles you face. Check out more on this subject at: Evade the Fear of Failure.
Imagine if Michael Vick’s approach to the opportunity he had to play again in the NFL would have been addressed with half-effort. We can say with confidence that he would have been released by the Eagles at the end of the 2009 season. Let’s go further…Imagine if Vick didn’t put himself in the best position by giving maximum effort in his preparation and practice. With confidence, again, we can say assume that when he was called to the field in game one, after Kolb got injured, that he would have choked – keeping him in a backup role. Now, let’s think like a hustler; positive, progressive, and with intensity…Michael Vick put himself in the best position possible by working hard and proving his ability which allowed him to seize the opportunity presented to him.
Who knows what’s next for Vick? Will he retain his starting role and completely revamp his career? Who knows and who cares! But in the bigger scheme, we can learn from his roller coaster ride thus far, reaching rock bottom and regaining a level of success by changing his actions, putting him in the best position possible and seizing opportunities.
Operate with a hustler’s intensity: establish a personal brand, develop a network of allies, drive results, be your own business, see problems as opportunities, and set the standard for all others…basically follow The 6 Core Values of a Hustler. Then love the rewards.
Referenced Articles:
Evade the Fear of Failure
The 6 Core Values of a Hustler
{ 13 comments… read them below or add one }
Brave article JK. We all point the finger at others who have erred or done bad things mainly because we want to take the focus from our own shortcomings. I have much to be proud of but also things that embarass me from past behaviour. But life is about learning, experiencing, and growing and we often only achieve that through mistakes and wrongdoings. What would we feel if we were treated as a permanently awful person after one misdemeanour? There by the grace of God go I – sins and all. Live and let live, live and let learn!
John – thanks for stopping by and commenting. I agree, we can learn from anything – even a baby. Some of the biggest lessons we can learn are from failures – especially when those failures are overcome. It’s a win-win!
Brave indeed…is there anything other way?
Peace.
Opportunities are dressed in overalls, that’s why people don’t see them. Yet they are everywhere. When preparation meets opportunity, success becomes inevitable. To grab opportunities and make most use of them, we need to walk with our inner eyes open. We all need to approach life with an open mind and a positive attitude.
Failure is a learning experience and we must not be afraid to fail. The fear of failure is failure itself. We learn most by making mistakes. Let’s come out of our comfort zone to try new things. Challenge impossibility always.
Insightful article Jk. Thanks
Thanks for making that key point. I really haven’t dug deep into spotting opportunities. But, honestly, they are everywhere. Every problem that I confront is an opportunity, in some way.
I appreciate you bringing your knowledge and commenting.
Peace.
Some times we mess up big time, like Vick did. But thats why, there is something called mercy. I think everyone deserved to be given a second chance. Plus, no one here can judge another man, who has not sinned themselves.
I hear you on that Jonathan. Sin is sin. We aren’t the weigher’s of it, and we’re all guilty of it.
Hi JK! I love your line: “making personal adjustments to obtain a sought after outcome.” It’s so true that sometimes all we need is to change our perspective to receive a different outcome. It’s said that “the definition of insanity is to do the same thing and expect a different outcome.” When we make adjustments, the world reflects this back at us.
Thanks for this inspirational article! Loving blessings!
Andrea – if we give half effort, we should expect half of the results. It’s logical to me…whatever that means!
Thanks for stopping by and commenting. I appreciate it.
Nice one JK. Vick definitely made things happen for himself in 2009. Of course, some of it was raw luck (opportunity), but it is not luck when you take advantage of that opportunity to its fullest extent.
Thanks for sharing,
Steven
Steven – thanks for stopping by. I appreciate you checking out the article and commenting.
One way I see luck is: the harder I work; the better the position I put myself in – the luckier I become.
Peace.
JK Hustle: Interesting article and it really illustrates the fact that we all have our own journey and life really is about living and learning. We are all going to have challenges and lessons that come our way. I really appreciated what you said about changing your actions if you are not getting the results you want. It really is so important to realize that we get to shape and influence our own future by making choices.
P.S. I guess you may have an addendum to this post in light of Vick’s possible injury.
Very interesting post. Thanks for sharing your insights.
Hi Sibyl: Yes, not matter the background or previous track record, one can change – and change for the better. Crazy that Vick got injured – but at least if he doesn’t start in week 5 – it’s only because he tried to put himself in the best position possible – THE ENDZONE!
Peace.
This is the greatest topic I have read all week??
Tamika