As an athlete, I always put in my best effort while playing. However, the effort that you put up on the field often has to be subsidized by the effort put up off the field. Sometimes you must put in more effort off the field than on. Ideally, the effort on and off is equal, but it is astronomical. That is only ideally. In reality, what is often seen is that athletes only put in the effort on the field because that is all they think that matters. That is not to say everyone does that. Professional athletes put in insurmountable effort off the field just so they can succeed when actually playing. However, not all of us are professional athletes. There must be a balance between the two that needs to be found in order to succeed.
Athletes generally think that the most important aspect of what they do is their performances while playing the game. For professional athletes, all we see is their effort on television while playing their respective games. Many kids grow up with the ideology that only the effort put up on the field counts. This is due to what they see. As much as this is true, non of the athletes on television got to where they are now without the effort put up off the field. All the days prior to playing they have to work hard in whatever they are doing. The saying "practice makes perfect" is true. All athletes must practice hard and put in each days worth of hard work to achieve something great. Non of the athletes in today's world would be where they currently are without all the hard work and practice put in in the past.
When talking about the hard work put in in the off-season, this does not necessarily mean practicing the same thing over and over again. For example, if you are a soccer player, your hard work in the off-season should not only be the practice you put in playing soccer with the ball. It is important and should not be over looked. You still need to practice what you do to a degree. But there is another area that needs the effort put into it. This can be athletic training such as strength or cardiovascular training. Most athletes that want to succeed will need to put in this type of effort to get better. While working out, I have often heard my friends say, "working hard or hardly working?" I have overlooked this until this point. That hard work that is put in in the weight room is significant to success. Many people overlook it at hardly work, but it is important not to do so. You must always work hard to then succeed while actually playing.
It is evident that hard work and practice translates into the performance on the field. It can easily be transferable to any sport that any individual plays. The best example is from our school. It is obvious that our volleyball program does not breed the tallest players. It has been dug into us day after day. But, we do everything we can to overcome this, and we have proven to be a successful program. We are told be must become better, faster, and stronger. You get better by practicing, you get faster by working on your foot speed, and you get stronger by working out. Jokingly, it is often said we need to get taller but unfortunately if there was a way we would have already found it. Anyways, those three words that have been repeated to us are necessary to our success. All that effort comes through the off-season. It is then where you succeed. Without the off-season, no work would ever translate into the success that is actually seen during the season. The two go hand in hand to achieve success.
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Captured Thought: Apple
Just last week Apple released its new and improved Ipad 2. Upon release, it is Apples newest gadget that attempts to propel the company forwards. Before going forward, it should be noted that I am not the biggest fan of Apple. Regarding computers, I completely despise Macs. I am a PC. However, Apple must be given credit for its production of the Ipod which changed the way we listened to music forever. I have to say, I do own an Ipod, but who doesn't. In the next few moments I will take you back and include the history of Apple and its success and where that success lies. Additionally, I will add my thoughts on what I really do think of Apple.
Apple started in the spring of 1976. At that time it produced its first computer kit. But, it wasn't until 1984 the Apple released its first Mac computer. Considering inflation, today it would have cost around $5000. A price so large for a product that compared to today's standards is astonishing. It was here that Apple's stock rose. However, at the same time Microsoft and IBM were producing their own products at fractions of the cost, and as a result Apple's stock soon feel. At the time it did produce its first PDA and portable computer which they would not know would be part of their successful future.
It was in 1998 that the first IMac came out. The all inclusive desktop computer immediately skyrocketed sales. It was this type of computer that would hold to be part of the future of Apple. The next step of success came when Apple decided to open its own stored. Originally their products were only sold in the typical electronic stores. But they opened a store in California and have grown from then on. This was one of the greater decisions made by Apple, to open its own store. With the desktop computer, Apple then came out with its MacBook laptop in 2006. Currently, Apple generates most of its profit from laptop sales. Third on the list is desktop computer sale. Apple was always going to be based on its computer sales, but it saw opportunities elsewhere and jumped on them with success.
Going back, in 2001 Apple unveiled its most successful product to date, the Ipod. The Ipod transformed the way people listened to music. But to Apple it did more than that; it generated all the money. Apple sales skyrocketed. This was one of the greatest inventions of all time which has to have credit given to Apple. Without the Ipod, music would not be the music we listen to today, and Apple would not be apple. Apple would go on to introduce the Iphone which I count to be similar to the Ipod, and also introduced in 2003 was Itunes. As much as people use Itunes today, monetarily it is actually the least profitable aspect of Apple. However, if Apple wants to continue selling the Ipod, it will need to provide its consumers with the music as well.
So here we are today. Apple has seen so much success throughout its history. It is in their nature to continue producing products that attempt to revolutionize us. That is exactly what Apple attempted to do with the Ipad. Now we have the Ipad 2. In criticism to Apple, is it really necessary to come out with products in rapid succession? It seems as people just bought number 1 and now there is a number 2. This is one thing that I will not understand soon about technology. Additionally, I have heard of the multiple flaws with the product. Although it is unfair, and incorrect for me to criticize without using the product, mounting reviews are the source of my comment. Additionally, there are far more tablets on the market now for the fraction of the price of the Ipad, and that have far greater capabilities. In retrospect, I will not be turning over to the Mac side anytime soon. I will still be a PC. My 2005 Ipod is enough, as well as it should be for multiple people. Kudos to Apple for being where it is today, but really?
Apple started in the spring of 1976. At that time it produced its first computer kit. But, it wasn't until 1984 the Apple released its first Mac computer. Considering inflation, today it would have cost around $5000. A price so large for a product that compared to today's standards is astonishing. It was here that Apple's stock rose. However, at the same time Microsoft and IBM were producing their own products at fractions of the cost, and as a result Apple's stock soon feel. At the time it did produce its first PDA and portable computer which they would not know would be part of their successful future.
It was in 1998 that the first IMac came out. The all inclusive desktop computer immediately skyrocketed sales. It was this type of computer that would hold to be part of the future of Apple. The next step of success came when Apple decided to open its own stored. Originally their products were only sold in the typical electronic stores. But they opened a store in California and have grown from then on. This was one of the greater decisions made by Apple, to open its own store. With the desktop computer, Apple then came out with its MacBook laptop in 2006. Currently, Apple generates most of its profit from laptop sales. Third on the list is desktop computer sale. Apple was always going to be based on its computer sales, but it saw opportunities elsewhere and jumped on them with success.
Going back, in 2001 Apple unveiled its most successful product to date, the Ipod. The Ipod transformed the way people listened to music. But to Apple it did more than that; it generated all the money. Apple sales skyrocketed. This was one of the greatest inventions of all time which has to have credit given to Apple. Without the Ipod, music would not be the music we listen to today, and Apple would not be apple. Apple would go on to introduce the Iphone which I count to be similar to the Ipod, and also introduced in 2003 was Itunes. As much as people use Itunes today, monetarily it is actually the least profitable aspect of Apple. However, if Apple wants to continue selling the Ipod, it will need to provide its consumers with the music as well.
So here we are today. Apple has seen so much success throughout its history. It is in their nature to continue producing products that attempt to revolutionize us. That is exactly what Apple attempted to do with the Ipad. Now we have the Ipad 2. In criticism to Apple, is it really necessary to come out with products in rapid succession? It seems as people just bought number 1 and now there is a number 2. This is one thing that I will not understand soon about technology. Additionally, I have heard of the multiple flaws with the product. Although it is unfair, and incorrect for me to criticize without using the product, mounting reviews are the source of my comment. Additionally, there are far more tablets on the market now for the fraction of the price of the Ipad, and that have far greater capabilities. In retrospect, I will not be turning over to the Mac side anytime soon. I will still be a PC. My 2005 Ipod is enough, as well as it should be for multiple people. Kudos to Apple for being where it is today, but really?
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