Stay the course

I love the story of James Podsiadly for one reason. He has broken convention and in doing so, will change peoples perception forever.

For the uninitiated, James managed to break into the AFL ranks for the first time at the age of 28. Playing his first game for Geelong in season 2010. In football terms he’s a senior citizen. In fact, most people start retiring around that vintage. But James wasn’t fortunate enough to get picked to play at AFL level at a young age. Geelong is his third club, and he has been starring this year.

He’s proven that age is relative to development.

He’s proven that age is relative to opportunity.

He’s proven that desire can be translated into results.

He’s proven that great work eventually gets noticed.

He’s proven that sometimes people / companies / clubs get it wrong.

He’s proven that staying the course over a a long period is where results live.

So far in the year 2010, he’s the most inspiring person I’ve come across. Before we make an assessment of someone’s worth, we should think of James. He’s also who we should remember when we think of quitting, or we’re overlooked in whatever we are doing.

Startup Blog says: Thankyou James.

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5 thoughts on “Stay the course

  1. Nice piece Samma, the JPod is a fantastic story of persistence and keeping the dream alive. He may well end up an All Australian, Rookie of the Year and a Premiership player in 2010.

    It bares similarity to the legendary Kurt Warner American football story.

    Warner was a collegiate star who got cut from a bunch of NFL teams, played in the lowly Arena Football leagues until his career was seemingly over when he found himself stacking shelves in a supermarket.
    He gets a contract to play in the NFL’s European League and a couple of years later is given another chance on the St Louis Rams roster as their 3rd string quarter back.
    In 1999 injury and trades gave him a shot at the starting job and in one of the great Cinderella stories in American sport leads the Rams to win the Super Bowl, was named the MVP and ends up Sports Illustraded’s [Mag] Athlete of the year.

    Sometimes success in life, sport and business is just staying in the game long enough until your moment comes, chances are the longer it takes the more ready to handle the trimmings and pressure that come with it you’ll be.

    Podsiadly seems calm and gracious [in what little I’ve seen of him in the media] in handling his new found fame. I think in part that comes from being a 10 year-overnight-success-story.

    I’m no Geelong fan, but I’d love to see the JPod get a shot at a Premiership like Warner did. I think he’d be pretty ready to play on the big day in a granny.

    More on the Kurt Warner story…
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kurt_Warner

  2. Funny how some things just sink in better ’cause of your interest; eg playing sports

    Aida (@aida_lee via twitter)

  3. This post came just at the right time. Tomorrow I launch something that I’ve wanted to do for years…it’s now my time. I’m excited and as nervous as hell. I’ll keep jpod in the back of my mind, me thinks! Thanks big guy.

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