When I was a little boy my dad had started reading a nightly devotional written by the legendary Packers coach, Vince Lombardi. I distinctly remember a quote that my dad told us boys after reading a section one night. Lombardi said, “Practice does not make perfect. Only perfect practice makes perfect.” At the time I’m sure my brothers and I just shrugged and said “you’re right dad,” or “that’s a good’n,” but over time I realized the magnitude of that one quote. How we do anything is how we do everything. If you want to reach your goals you have to develop the drive and self discipline to do good time and time again. Sometimes this means saying no to your friends on Friday nights, challenging yourself, or receiving constructive criticism and improving upon your faults. But what turns a goal setter into a powerhouse is not their ability to perform when the spotlight is on, it’s the habits that they set for themselves to improve their tomorrow.
These skills look like walking your calf for hours until they walk into their set. Setting your lamb’s foot in the same exact spot every time he steps out of a brace. Walking your goat for miles upon miles until it’ll walk with its neck at a 90 degree angle. And my favorite, walking your gilt through tall grass, up hills, and even through the snow, all while keeping that nose straight forward like you want it! I list these examples only because this lesson was taught to me through showing livestock. But, whether it's the barn, the gym, the field, the track, the ag room, or your desk, let these just merely be setting to practice, improve and succeed in any endeavor that you are pursuing.
