Feet on clay

Napoleon Hill says that desire is the starting point of all achievement. Passion for excellence is what distinguishes...

Napoleon Hill says that desire is the starting point of all achievement. Passion for excellence is what distinguishes the achiever from the mediocre. The little spark of inspiration is what ultimately leads to success. A passion for perfection will make success a way of life. For people with that spark, the sky is not the limit, but only the beginning.

With his recent success against Federer at the last Wimbledon final, Rafael Nadal shattered notions of his adversary8217;s invincibility. Although it took a long and rain-interrupted battle, Nadal won in the end. Fellow player Marat Safin believes that 8220;To beat Federer you need to be Nadal and run around like a rabbit and hit winners from all over the place.8221; Surely there8217;s a lot of hard work behind all those remarkable aces and even his enviable fitness. So what makes the 22-year-old Spaniard a match for the indestructible Roger Federer? Some argue it8217;s his fitness and agility. Others believe it to be his powerful shots, but I believe it8217;s his passion and perseverance.

Nadal is an example of how will power, hard work and skill, along with a desire for perfection and precision, can make a difference. He turned pro in 2001 and has been nearly unbeatable since, giving his opponents a reason to fret. The six foot tall, left-handed player with a double-handed backhand has also proved his mettle at the French Open 8212; he remains unbeaten there. Some say he is the best player of all time on clay.

Michael Jordan, one of basketball8217;s greatest, concedes that he 8220;can accept failure8230; but he can8217;t accept not trying8221;. His career is testimony to this: he persisted till he got his shots perfect. His mind-boggling dunks and three-pointers were his reward for the hours he spent training. In his own words, 8220;Success isn8217;t something you chase. It8217;s something you have to put forth the effort for constantly. Then maybe it8217;ll come when you least expect it.8221;

8220;Invincible8221; sportsmen like Roger Federer, Michael Schumacher or Tiger Woods are not superhuman; they are mortals with a strong desire for excellence.