My shoulder hurts.  The right one.  The one I’ve used over and over again during my life to make thousands upon thousands of shots.

It’s painful.  I’ve never been stabbed, but if I were to guess what that feels like; it would be how my shoulder feels most of the time these days when I shoot the basketball.  Sharp stings.

The cause, I can only trace back to the large stacks of push-ups I did on a nightly basis during the NBA playoffs.  Not the brightest thing I’ve ever done.  I’ve had massages, treatments and have done my best to stay away from the courts as much as possible over the last two months, in an attempt to let it heal.  But I missed the game.

This week I said hello again to the game I love.

***

Thursday evening, after an hour and a half of makes and misses wrapped in pain, I sat down and talked some basketball history with a friend at the rec center.  We talked about MJ of course.

It was my third trip to the courts in the last four days.

Each day a bit better than the one before it, I could see my shot beginning to shine more and more and resemble its former self as I polished away.

After 20 or so minutes of conversation, I got up and asked my friend, “How many makes in a row before I leave today?”

He spat back, “10…wait, are you talking free throws?”

I said, “No man, threes!”

“You can’t make 10 threes in a row,” he quipped.

I shook my head at his lack of belief and responded, “OK, you just sit there and watch.”

44 Minutes

I honestly expected it to take me less than five minutes for me to make 10 three pointers in a row.

A few months ago, making 10 from downtown was easy earned.  I won’t say easy, because that would be a lie.  I’ve earned the right to make shots through tons of repetition.  It was never easy.

After just two or three minutes I was up to 8 in a row.

Miss.

Make, make, make, make, make…miss.

This pattern continued for the next 44 minutes as I shot one ball after the other.

Soaked with effort down through my socks, legs tired, arm fatigued, shoulder smarting, quitting without a doubt crossed my mind.

The thoughts, who would know or care if you stopped now and it’s ok to quit because you should take it easy on your shoulder, said hello.

But I refused to quit and kept shooting.

Then it finally happened.  14 makes in a row later I had accomplished my goal.

Where You Find Success!

Success isn’t as hard to find as people say it is.  It’s found right behind faith and a lot of hard work.

If you want success, just do what you say you’re going to do!

It won’t be easy.  But it’s possible!

While I was shooting, two others joined me in the task of making 10 three pointers in a row.  They were both really good shooters and one of them even got to 9 in a row once.  But they both quit before realizing the goal.

Today I know that I was the best shooter in that gym…and so do they.  That’s a HUGE difference in mindset and it comes by DOING or the lack there of.

The Magic is Within You!

A great friend of mine, Robert Brown, has a saying.  He says, “It’s no magic trick.  If you work hard you’ll be better.”

He’s right.  The magic is within you!

Two Things That You Control Today, That WILL Change Your Tomorrow

Success comes down to what you believe and the effort you put forth.

You control both of them.

Now you don’t get to control much in life, but you do control what you believe and how hard you work!

Belief

I consistently and constantly feed myself encouragement.

It’s going to be a great day!  I will be blessed in my business!  I am a great shooter!  I am a great writer, I am a great speaker, and on and on and on!

Now I want to improve in all things, but I feel that I’m destined for greatness!

That’s not being cocky.  That’s living your purpose!

You have to see it to believe it!

You have to believe it before you can achieve it!

Hard Work

Then I take that faith and belief and work really, really hard.

I keep going when others stop, because I’ve already seen my success!

I know I just need to have faith and keep working hard!

Michael Jordan and My Dream

Before I shook hands with Michael Jordan and told him about mevsMJ.com, I saw it happen!

I’ve seen the 1-on-1 game with MJ!

I’ve seen myself speaking to thousands, encouraging young and old what I believe, that Anything Is Possible with Faith & Hard Work!

I’ve seen lives changed!

What Do You See?

Whatever your mevsMJ.com is, I know it’s possible!

You’ve just got to have faith and you’ve got to work hard!

It’s waiting for you!

I will play Michael Jordan and impact lives!  What are you going to do?

me vs. MJ…the journey continues!

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If you’re new here, I set out in August 2010 to get a game of 1-on-1 vs. my childhood hero Michael Jordan.  This site is about that journey…through every valley, to every mountain top of triumph!

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Connect:  Twitter (@KennyEller) and mevsMJ.com Facebook Fan Page.

31,536,000

That’s how many seconds are in each calendar year.

Now, now, now, now, now…a few more gone, sprayed like they’ve been released from an automatic weapon, past your life never to be captured again.

You’ll probably chew up over 240 just reading this post.

If you don’t mind me asking, exactly how old are you right now?

How many seconds or moments have you already spent?

Do you feel time is of the essence?  Or is that just another empty saying, like the powerful four letter word love, that people regurgitate because they think it’s the thing to say.

Do YOU mean it?  Seriously? Do you?

This isn’t a feel good post.  This one isn’t going to make ya feel warm and fuzzy.  It’s time to get down deep and search.

It’s time to lose that BIG BUT.

The BIG BUT

I would but I just don’t have the time these days.

I really wish I could but I’ve got too many responsibilities now to be doing that.

I would but I just don’t make enough money.

I’d run, I’d blog, I’d write, I’d sing, I’d dance, I’d travel, I’d play, I’d do this and I’d do that, BUT I’ve told myself I’m limited.  I’ve told myself it’s too much.  I’ve told myself it’s not for me anymore.

You’ve told yourself a LIE.

The LIE is Hungry

Are you mad at me for calling you out?

Do you want to stop reading now?

Do I just not understand YOUR situation?

Do you want to share your EXCUSE with me?

The lie is so hungry.  It wants to eat your dreams.  It wants to keep you right where you are.   The lie doesn’t want to see you progress.  It doesn’t want you to shine.  The lie doesn’t want people emulating your success.  The lie wants to be spread.

You must not continue to feed the lie.

An Overwhelming Response

Life can be so overwhelming.   Maybe you work hard at a job you don’t feel passionate about, to make money to support yourself and your family.  A family that by the time you get home, you’re almost too tired to really cherish.   You do this over and over again, year after year.

Now, now, now, now, now…more time is gone.

You used to dream big things for yourself.  HUGE, INSPRING THINGS!

BUT how can you possibly still even attempt to follow your passion when you can barely get through what you’re doing now?

I hear ya…it can be overwhelming.

How to eat away at the But one bite at a time (Something My Dad Taught Me)

I bought my first home right after I turned 24 years old.   I wanted to invest in the market, but my Dad advised, no he made me, buy a house.  (Note:  Had I invested at that time (pre 9/11), I would still be living at home…haha.  Thanks Dad!)

For the first few years of my banking career I also had a second job writing the sports section for a local newspaper.

I had a girlfriend as well, and all what comes with a relationship.

I was busy.

I worked 40-45 hours a week at the bank, nights and all weekend on the paper, and the rest of the time I would squeeze in some hoops, time with friends and family and time with the girlfriend.

I wasn’t making a whole heck of a lot of money at the time either.  That coupled with the fact that I have two of the hardest working people ever as parents, meant I took care of the yard work and everything else that goes along with being a homeowner.

When I bought my first home, two retirees had owned it prior.  They had flowers growing in places I didn’t even know you could grow flowers.  It was immaculate.  The curb appeal was sky high.

That appeal lasted for awhile, but then I was overwhelmed.   I just didn’t have the time needed to maintain the lawns pristine appearance, rather it wasn’t my priority.  So the weeds started growing.   The bushes went months without trimming.  My grass wasn’t edged along the sidewalks and driveway.   About the only thing I did keep up with was the mowing of the grass.

My parents would pass by, call me and drop hints, but I just couldn’t see how I would ever be able to maintain it all.  It stressed me.  You have to understand I have two parents who plant things for fun, who landscape and mow and enjoy it.

I told my Dad one evening, I just couldn’t do it.  It was too much.  I didn’t care.  I was beyond frustrated!

He listened and then he taught.

He said, if you look at every single thing you have to do and clump it all together, it will seem overwhelming.   It will appear to be too much.

He went on with, but if you break it down in to bite size pieces.   If you take one section at a time and put a little time in each evening, you’ll slowly start chipping away at it.

He continued, don’t try and kill yourself with doing it all in one day.   Spread it out, because it’s not going anywhere, but get out there and start.  Before you know it, you’ll have it done!  I’d be more than willing to come help!

I have used that life lesson over and over again in my life.

Whenever I begin to feel overwhelmed and stressed, I try and take a step back and figure out how to chip away one bite at a time.

I’m no Judge

I wear no black robe.  I own not one gavel.  I’m not here to judge.

I’m here to inspire as others, like my Dad, have inspired me.

Life will always present you with an obstacle.  The lie will forever be hungry.

Though, no matter your individual situation, there is always another pushing through.   Another who cut ties with the lie long ago and instead chose to LIVE!

What you do with your life is your choice.

Now, now, now, now, now…more time is slipping by.

Are you ready to lose your BIG BUT???

Get Out There and Start!

I hope that my story in some way helps you to get back on track.   To realize that nothing is impossible, impossible just take a bit longer.

As cliché as it sounds, it really does all begin with one step.  There is so much to be had in life.   All the things you dreamt about.  The things you still keep deep inside for no one else to see anymore, can be had.

I know your situation may seem like it’s too much, but please try bite size pieces.  I think you’ll be amazed at how quickly YOUR curb appeal returns.

Now, now, now, now, now…the seconds keep flowing.

It’s time to say goodbye forever to that BIG BUT!