“There may be people that have more talent than you, but there’s no excuse for anyone to work harder than you do.”
– Derek Jeter

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Greatness can be found in every walk of life, from the artist to the athlete. In each case, there are those that stand out and those that don’t. What is it that separates the two?

Derek Jeter is considered one of the greatest baseball players of all time. He is what sports fans like to call a first ballot Hall of Famer. In sports, the Hall of Fame recognizes the best players to ever play the game. First ballot Hall of Famers are voted in on the first eligible ballot.

Jeter ended his career in the top ten of three statistical categories. He was sixth in hits with 3,465. He was seventh in at-bats with 11,195. And he was ninth in runs with 1,923.

What do these stats prove? They prove that Jeter had staying power. Some athletes can make it in sports based off of their natural talents alone, but those who do quickly fade away. Others, like Derek Jeter, become masters of their craft. They hone their skills to perfection.

A New York Times article estimated that Jeter swung a bat 342,000 times in his professional career. His deliberate and methodical practice can seen in his signature stance and swing. Each at bat is preceded by a very distinct routine.

Derek Jeter did not achieve greatness through luck or pure athleticism. Like every great athlete to play a sport, he spent countless hours practicing and becoming better.

Even if you don’t know anything about baseball, you can still appreciate what Derek Jeter has done. He was meticulous at his craft and worked hard to be the best. Don’t be discouraged by those who have more talent than you. Use it as motivation to become better. If you work harder than everyone else you are sure to find success.

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