#717 destiny

Think of what a thrill it must be to have your name called as one of the draft picks for the National Football League.  Only 256 men had that honor this year.  Everyone involved must be over the moon with excitement.

Being chosen as a member of the NFL is an elusive goal.  In the U.S., 3 million kids play youth football.  I am sure several of them believe they will be the next Payton Manning or Tom Brady, but in reality only about one-third (1.1 million) even make it to play high school ball.  After that, the roster truly dwindles and only about 73,000 play in college** and less than 2,000 play pro ball.  The odds are daunting that even the college player will be drafted.

The NFL Draft makes the odds and competition neatly quantifiable.  But I wonder how many kids want to be veterinarians, but never make it into vet school.  How many want to be astronauts but never fly.  Or want to be president, but never run for office.

It is probably a good thing for our dreams that we spend little time calculating how minuscule our chances are to achieve them.  You only need one spot to be drafted and you've got 250+ chances each year.  Act as if you are destined rather than doomed.

More on the draft tomorrow...

-- beth triplett
leadershipdots.blogspot.com

@leadershipdots
leadershipdots@gmail.com

Sources:  *NFL Draft Results 2014, Bleacher Report, May 12, 2014
** Football participation in the USA, USA Today Snapshots, July 17, 2012