NCAA: Pitino proves success is a choice

The author of the Success is a Choice, basketball coach Rick Pitino, has one goal: to get the reader to believe that success is indeed a choice, one that each of us can make for ourselves. He does this by discussing everything from the importance of building self-esteem, to the importance of surviving success once you have attained it. I agree wholeheartedly with the author that success is a choice; I believe that the harder you work to achieve success, the likelier you are to attain it. The book opens with commentary on the importance of deserving victory: "Hard work is the basic building block of every kind of achievement: without it, everything else is pointless: you can start with a dream, or an idea or a goal, but before any of your hopes can be realized, you must deserve your success."

I believe that there is no limit to the success one can achieve if work to their full potential. Reading Success is a Choice has helped bring this belief to the forefront.

"You have control of your life, your success or failure is up to you."

These words sum up the book’s message, a powerful message that has helped me take more control over my life. This book has definitely helped me learn to "shoot for the stars" in all that I attempt. It has taught me that if I work to the best of my ability, good things should happen. Pitino’s motivational masterpiece has also allowed me to take control over some of my phobias and conquer them. One of these phobias is, or should I say was, public speaking. For years I was rather terrified of giving speeches, even to small groups of people. One of the keys to success that Pitino talks about is "mastering the art of communication."

>"Communicating clearly (to the people around us) is a critical part of your success."

After reading this book, and growing a bit as a person, I summoned the courage to visit a speech pathologist in search of a remedy for my problem. I realized that the importance of communication was something that was of the utmost importance, and therefore, I needed to address my speaking difficulties. After a few months of working closely with him, my abilities as an orator have improved greatly, and I have just recently started taking a much more pro-active role in my speaking. Now, I would be amiss if I credited all of this personal success to reading Success is a Choice. However, this book did play an important part in the weeks leading up to my success, it helped confirm that if I wanted to succeed, I could.

Success is a Choice has really helped me in my academic journey as well, it has led me to take much more challenging courses, and motivated me to work to my potential. Pitino’s piece has helped me in a myriad of ways, from doing college planning, to giving me the moral strength to bolster my SAT score, the book's contributions to my success have been great.

"Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence, talent will not, the world is full of unsuccessful people with talent. Genius will not, unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not, the world is full of uneducated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent." –Anonymous.

Pitino drives this point home when he discusses the importance of "being ferociously persistent" What determines who is going to stick to his or her (plan of attack) and who is going to fall by the wayside? "Persistence, sheer persistence." Through helping me become more persistent, aiding in my mastery of communication, and raising my self-confidence, this book has not only helped me become a better student, but a better person as well.

Pitino has just been confirmed as the new coach in Louisville, and I must say that I will be watching the team’s progression this coming season. Success is a Choice taught me that my success rests on my shoulders. And I am confident that Pitino will attempt to make certain to his players that success is a choice, and the choice is theirs.