Saturday I spent most of the day watching the NFL draft. I find draft day one of the most exciting events in pro football and even though this year didn't have the caliber of players in the 2006 draft, there was still plenty of excitement in the first round.
As expected, the Oakland Raiders took quarterback JaMarcus Russell at number one. Detroit took wide receiver Calvin Johnson number two. Then, all expectations were that Cleveland would take quarterback Brady Quinn from Notre Dame. Quinn grew up a Browns fan and ESPN showed photos of a young Quinn wearing a toy Browns helmet. He was from Ohio and actually WANTED to play for the Browns.. Strangely, Cleveland took tackle Joe Thomas and Quinn's free fall began. His next likely suitor, Miami shocked the entire NFL fan base by taking wide receiver Ted Ginn Jr. You could see Quinn's disappointment. Finally, hours later, Quinn got the call.
After 20 teams let him slide past in Saturday's NFL draft, the Browns traded their second-round pick (No. 36 overall) and first-round pick in 2008 to Dallas at No. 22 to move up and select Quinn.
"In the end, it worked out the best way possible," Quinn said.
Seconds after being taken by the Browns, Quinn exhaled before slowly walking onto the stage at Radio City Music Hall and being presented with a No. 1 Browns jersey by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell.
"It's really living out a childhood dream," said Quinn, who thinks that old Browns helmet is somewhere in storage at home. "You don't count on a team coming back in the picture like that."
So why am I telling you this story? It's a great lesson in perseverance and a reminder to hold onto your dreams and to never lose focus on your goals.
All of us start out in life with dreams, wishes, and plans. At some point, all of us experience difficulty. What makes winners win and achievers achieve is the attitude and perseverance when plans go awry. Nobody is born with the entitlement to achieve dreams. It's all based on hard work.
If you've faced disappointment and are ready to give up, let me encourage you to hang in there. If there is a roadblock in your way, go over it, tunnel under it, or kick it down. If those around you give you discouraging advice and tell you to quit, shut them out and move forward. Those that say it can't be done need to move out of your way so you can get it done. When you see the door to your dream cracked open for you, throw your shoulder behind it and knock it down. Then, it's up to you to make it happen.
Brady Quinn now has an opportunity to prove the naysayers wrong and he can do it with the team he always wanted to play for. I hope he succeeds. What are you planning to do today to make your dream come true?
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