article by C.J. Aragon,
2010 NIRA Coach-of-the-Year, Odessa College Rodeo Coach
From what I have witnessed as a coach, those who work hard win. It is that simple. There are no big secrets about it, and the formula will hold true in all aspects of your life. If you work hard and diligently you will be successful. It may take time, there will still be ups and downs, but hard work will always lead you to a better place.
I have seen talented students not reach their potential because they were not willing to work. I have watched as students with marginal talent simply outworked the competition and found ways to win. Hard work is a great equalizer of talent.
Many of today’s top rodeo high school and college athletes think they will get by on talent. They were successful in high school on talent, and they expect the same results in college and even on the professional level. As an athlete you will progress through the levels of rodeo from high school, college and on to professional, two things will noticeably increase, the talent level of the competitors and the amount of work they put in their craft to compete at a high level. Many high school, college and professional rodeo contestants believe they can be a rodeo star, but they are not willing to do the basic work that it takes to ascend to the next level of competition.
Successful work habits are not just in the arena, they should carry over to all aspects of your life. You should work hard in the classroom. Successful work habits should carry over when you are being paid for your time. Working hard is a great habit to develop and use every day.
Here is a simple question I pose to many of my student athletes every year. “Are you the hardest worker on this team?” If you are the hardest worker on the team you are setting the bar for everyone else. If they answer that they are not the hardest worker on the team, the question is a simple one. Why Not?
Can you honestly expect to beat someone like Trevor Brazil if you are not willing to out-work him? If you honestly believe that, you had better be phenomenally talented and extremely lucky. You can choose most of the top rodeo athletes, and none of them are there by accident. The qualifiers to the WNFR have put in weeks, days and hours of work to get where they are. Don’t let the brief time you watch them in the arena fool you. For every second you watch there is a long and dedicated story of hard work that got them to that point.
One of the basic goals that everyone needs to have is to be a hard worker. By being a hard worker you are dedicating yourself to being better at your craft. Your dedication will be contagious and you will find like-minded people will soon surround you.
Most competitors wish for success, those who truly want it will WORK for it.
C.J. Aragon was named the 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 Grand Canyon Region Coach-of-the-Year. 2014, 2015 WJCAC Coach-of-the-Year and 2010 National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association Coach-of-the-Year.
