You can't miss a day

The secret to world-class performance

This is the simple secret to high performance. Lacrosse player Paul Rabil, the Michael Jordan of his sport, describes the scene in his book The Way of the Champion.

While still in high school, Rabil was at a lacrosse camp, listening to a talk from legendary coach Tony Seaman.

“Who here wants to play at a Division 1 School?”

Every single kid raised their hand.

“I’ll tell you how to do it,” he said. “And on top of it, I’ll tell you how to get a full scholarship to play at a college of your choice. Who here wants a full ride?”

Again, every hand went up.

Seaman continued, “It’s a simple formula. There’s one thing you have to do. From this day forward, through your senior year of high school, you have to shoot a hundred shots a day.”

“That’s it,” he said. “You shoot a hundred shots a day from now through your senior year of high school, I guarantee you will get a full scholarship to the Division 1 college of your choice.” It only takes 30 minutes or so. “Who here can find thirty minutes to take a hundred shots?” Again, every hand went up.

“Here’s the caveat,” Seaman said.

“You can’t miss a day.”

“Not a holiday. You can’t miss when it’s pouring down rain. You can’t miss because you had a game the night before—or the day of. You can’t miss a day because you’re on vacation. And if you can’t find a goal, make one up. You have to find a way.”

Rabil concludes:

I don’t know about the other kids, but I walked out of that auditorium and did what COach Seaman said. Every single day, rain or shine, I practiced. Everywhere I went, I would find a wall to throw against. A goal to shoot on. From my home state of Maryland to New York, California, and Washington, to England, Italy, Spain, Israel, and France—me, a stick, and a ball.

For twenty years.

The result? Rabil was offered not one, but twelve full scholarships to top schools, won All-American honours four years in a row, and became the #1 draft pick, then played professional lacrosse for 14 years, winning two championships and, along the way, breaking the record for most career points, and reaching the pinnacle of his sport.

All from a hundred shots a day. A simple thirty minute commitment to practising your craft.

It doesn’t sound like a lot—and on any given day, it’s not. But brick by brick, slowly but surely, you’re building something. Over a year, you’ve made big progress. Over five years, you’re clearly pulling ahead of your peers. Over two decades, it’s completely life-changing.

It’s not easy, but it is simple.

Thanks to Billy Oppenheimer for recommending this fantastic book. For more on this topic, I also love Steph Smith’s essay How to be great? Just be good, repeatedly.