You miss 100% of the shots you don't take

I believe it was Wayne Gretzky who said this.

While I'm not much of a hockey fan I have to admire his ability and record.  Plus, this fits into our Achievement Formula we've been developing.

Basically, a shot can be interpreted as Effort and WG is saying that without taking a shot you (putting forth the effort) you will always "miss" (and won't achieve).  It's tough these days to get kids to put forth the effort.  A few years back I talked with a friend whose job included working with incoming college freshman.  I asked him what the #1 challenge facing kids these days was.  He basically said it was the ability to think critically - problem solving skills.

Kids these days have too many things done for them and when they get out on their own they wonder who is going to solve their next problem.  They haven't put in any effort - or been allowed to put any effort by their parents - into investigating what it is that is the source of the problem and the "why" that problem is occurring so they can take appropriate steps to solve the problem and better yet insure that it doesn't happen again in the future.  If it does happen then they should be prepared to solve it on their own.  Another form of achievement.

Practice and failures and not bad things but good things if you put effort into both of them.  Look at Michael Jordan - the National Basketball Asociation's all time leading scorer.  He has the most points ever and he also has the most missed shots ever.

Do you think he learned anything by putting effort into why he missed those shots?

Have a great day!