| Do you know the one Key to Success? There | | | | whittled down to only six boats - six crews of |
| are many elements that must combine in just the | | | | eight and their coxswain. |
| right proportions for success in any endeavor to | | | | "If you shoot for the moon, even if you miss, |
| occur. And the elements vary depending on the | | | | you'll land among the stars." |
| enterprise. | | | | My daughter's crew didn't win the gold. In fact, |
| Success can be as elusive as a butterfly, as | | | | they didn't win a medal. But they won the right to |
| changeable as a chameleon and as difficult to | | | | compete in the final race. They were among the |
| attain as a Spanish galleon at the bottom of the | | | | stars. They held one of the coveted six spots. |
| sea. | | | | They did succeed. |
| But there is one key factor that must be present | | | | Have you guessed yet what the one Key to |
| before there is any hope of success. | | | | Success is? |
| As a spectator and supportive "crew mom", I | | | | Is it luck? Some luck is always welcome. You |
| watched as my daughter and her team mates | | | | might have guessed persistence. Persistence is |
| advanced through time trials and semi-finals and | | | | most certainly an important ingredient of success. |
| ultimate to the finals in the Stotesbury Cup | | | | But sometimes success happens without |
| National Rowing Regatta, the most prestigious high | | | | persistence - serendipitously. (My daughter's coach |
| school crew regatta in the country. | | | | would cringe if he read this!) |
| I knew that my daughter and her crew of | | | | The Key to Success is being willing to risk failing. |
| Lightweights had many hurdles to achieve | | | | Success, however you define it, requires a |
| "success." Out of the many teams that entered | | | | decision to "go for it". To succeed, you must be |
| the regatta, less than a third remained for the | | | | willing to take the risk that you might not achieve |
| second and final day of racing. All the others had | | | | your goal and to work hard and do absolutely |
| been eliminated, packed their bags, loaded their | | | | everything it takes to win - despite the real and |
| boats back onto trailers, folded their tents and | | | | ever-present possibility of failing. |
| went home. | | | | It's easier when you see the bigger picture - |
| These rowers, my daughter's team included, | | | | when you realize that there is much to be gained |
| trained six days a week every week since last | | | | simply by taking the risk and going for it. |
| August. This event in Philadelphia was the pinnacle | | | | Because... |
| of their racing season. And they made it to the | | | | "If you shoot for the moon, even if you miss, |
| finals. The number of contenders had been | | | | you'll land among the stars. |