Strength

My dad has has always been a strong silent figure in my life.  Never quick with a compliment, always willing to keep you grounded, but he knew how to keep me motivated.  I remember playing basketball in the driveway for hours.  My dad would come out after he got home from work, read the newspaper and needed a cigarette.  He would always stand leaning over the fence watching, than the inevitable would happen, "Can you make 10 in a row this time?"
So to the free throw line I would go with a quick "of course."  I could make free throws at a 20 to 50 in a row clip regularly but that always changed once my dad stepped to the court.   He would only talk if I got to 7 and then it would be, " only 3 more to go..."
Somewhere in those last 3 shots, the release would be slightly wrong and I would miss.
"Looks like you still have some practicing to do."  Simple to the point.

"Wait dad let me shoot again."

"Wouldn't be 10 in row now."  Away he would head to the house, smoke trailing him.

I would almost guarantee the next 10 would fall perfectly through the net, but I knew it didn't count.   So how important were those shots?  Everyone wants to be the big time player in life and the only way that happens is practice, belief and being able to perform in those big moments.

Thanks Dad!  I can credit a great bit of my success to your hidden lessons.