By Birth

In the quest for success, many people focus on developing their personality, charisma, and talents as the primary drivers of achievement. While these attributes undeniably contribute to initial success, they can only take you so far. The true pillars of lasting success are a strong, virtuous character and a commitment to discipline. Deion Sanders is a prime example. Pun intended.

Deion Sanders excelled in sports since he was 7 years old. He excelled at every level: little league, high school, college, and professionally. And not just in one sport, but two! And not just in one position, but several!

And then he went on to make a successful career on television with the NFL. And he also got into coaching. He did well enough to land a head coaching job at an HBCU and won 2 conference championships in 3 years. Now, he’s making waves as the head coach at Colorado University. What he’s done and is doing is unprecedented.

Talented? More than talented.

Charismatic? Just watch his press conferences and interviews.

He’s still Prime Time. What he does is unprecedented and often misunderstood. Coach Urban Meyer called what he’s doing “the ultimate experiment.”

Meaning: if it works, others will try and copy it.

I doubt what Coach Prime is doing IS copy-able. I say that for two reasons:

1. There is only one Deion Sanders. His charisma, confidence and talent are quite unique.

2. He has developed the character and discipline to match his talent and charisma.

The combination of those two is hard to find.

But the good news for the rest of us sub-prime humans is, you don’t have to have #1 to be successful. You don’t have to be born gifted in order to do something meaningful and valuable. The truth is, everything in #2 is created and built by decisions. And those decisions will take you farther and sustain you much longer than just #1.

Character forms the foundation upon which all other accomplishments rest. It embodies qualities like honesty, integrity, empathy, and resilience. A person with strong character earns the trust and respect of others, paving the way for enduring relationships and opportunities. Charisma may draw people in, but it’s character that keeps them close.

Discipline is the bridge between setting goals and realizing them. It involves a commitment to consistent effort, even when the initial excitement fades. Discipline pushes us to persevere through setbacks and helps maintain focus on long-term objectives. Without it, talent and charisma can fizzle into complacency, resulting in wasted potential.

The importance of character and discipline becomes especially evident when faced with challenges. A person with strong character will make ethical choices even in difficult circumstances, maintaining their integrity and reputation. Discipline empowers individuals to stay the course, adapt to changing conditions, and continue working toward their goals.

Success built on character and discipline is not a fleeting moment but a sustainable journey. It’s the kind of success that endures, withstands adversity, and inspires others. So, while personality, charisma, and talent may open doors, it’s the strength of character and the power of discipline that will determine how far you can go and how long you can sustain your success. In the end, they are the true keys to achieving and maintaining success in both personal and professional endeavors.

So don’t worry about trying to be Deion or anyone else. Be you. But be the best version of you that discipline, commitment, integrity, virtue and character can produce.