10+20+15+5+50 = “Hundred percent reason to remember the name”

After my last swim meet, my dad and I were driving home. I had an overall poor season and didn't perform to my potential. I was disheartened and feeling low. During the ride, we were listening to this song by this band called “Fort Minor” and the chorus caught my attention. It was:

“This is ten percent luck

Twenty percent skill

Fifteen percent concentrated power of will

Five percent pleasure

Fifty percent pain

And a hundred percent reason to remember the name”

I was very curious and asked my dad what this meant. He told me a story about Nora, a talented basketball player who put in a lot of hard work every season. Nora’s goal was to participate at the state championships. She knew that reaching her goal wouldn’t be easy. Nora went to every single practice. All of the reps and shots she made that season were different than the previous seasons, it was just harder. He said that Nora told herself, “If I keep practicing everyday I’m sure I will be able to get the techniques into my muscle memory”. After months of hard work, Nora and her team were now getting ready for their first game of the season.

It was a big day for her. She was ready to dominate the competition. Nora was running through all the plays in her head while she was sitting in the locker room. She was prepared or as my dad told me, she thought she was prepared.

The game started. Nora was following her plays well. She was scoring baskets. My dad then told me about her teammate, Lily, who was a shooting guard on the team. He said Lily was mad at Nora because she wouldn’t pass the ball or let her shoot. The second quarter was over. Her team was leading with an amazing score. Nora went to sit on the bench and drink some water, but Lily confronted her. She told Nora that she was a weak and fragile little girl. Nora was stumped and didn’t know how to respond to Lily. 

It was almost time for the final half of the game. Nora was lost, confused and emotional that she didn’t even run through her game plan. That phrase kept running in Nora’s head. My dad explained how discouraged Nora was feeling. Nora still walked out to the court with a straight face. She barely made any shots in this half of the game. Nora’s team ended up winning the game by a little bit. While her teammates celebrated their win together, Nora was simply just packing up her things and getting ready to leave not really understanding what had happened. 

On the ride back home just like me, Nora’s dad asked her, “What happened to you in the 2nd half of the game today? You are usually so focussed.” Nora explained the situation with Lily. My dad, just like Nora’s dad, told me, “You can lose other people, but never lose yourself. People can distract and ruin your performance. You have to learn how to ignore the people around you and only be focused on what you are here for. You need to build mental resilience". He further told Nora that he understands what athletes go through and said that the best athletes train through the pain. Nora felt motivated. My dad using this example was telling me how Nora was ready to work hard both physically and mentally for the next games. 

After many months of practice, Nora had changed a lot of habits in her lifestyle. She started working on her mental and physical training everyday. Nora felt happy inside and felt accomplished. She regularly went to her team practices and made new strategies with her coach and reflected on them. 

Now it was time for Nora to get back on the court. As the whistle blew, Nora was a different athlete and something different was visible about her. My dad explained how Nora had forgotten the past with Lily and worked as a team with her now. The 1st half of the game was over and her team was doing great. While Nora was sitting on the bench Lily asked her, “Why did you pass the ball even after I said those hurtful words to you?” My dad told me that Nora said, “You have to be greater than the haters. We have to move on. Let's continue to dominate and win the game!” Nora and Lily equally made shots. With 60 seconds left, Nora’s team had a huge lead. It was just a matter of which shooting guard made the final shot. Lily decided to pass the ball to Nora. With 10 seconds left on the clock, Nora was placing herself in position for the final shot. She threw the ball in the air with all her might, the ball was swinging around the rim. Everybody in the crowd was on the edge of their seats. My dad told me how Nora thought she had missed the shot, but she actually hadn’t. The ball went through the net and a second later the final buzzer went off. 

Her team won! She was going to the state championships. More than winning the game, Nora’s victory was the many life lessons she learnt throughout her season that helped her to not only prepare physically but also mentally.

This past swim season I struggled and did not end up with the results I wanted. Nora’s story gave me a different perspective on how to improve my own habits and practices before my next season starts. The lyrics of the song I was listening to on the way home from my last swim meet finally made sense. 

“This is ten percent luck

Twenty percent skill

Fifteen percent concentrated power of will

Five percent pleasure

Fifty percent pain

And a hundred percent reason to remember the name”