5 surprising keys from basketball’s brightest star
In sports, there are athletes who excel and others who completely redefine the game.
Caitlin Clark falls in the latter category.
Image courtesy of Instagram Caitlin Clark
Her meteoric rise, first in the NCAA and now the WNBA (that’s basketball for you non-sport buffs. And stay tuned, this isn’t just about sports).
There are lessons in her story that offer insights into greatness in any endeavor.
The Numbers
A basketball phenom from small-town Iowa. She attended a Catholic high school before attending her home state school, the University of Iowa. She scored sixty points in one game and set the state record with 13 3-pointers in a single game.
As a freshman for the Hawkeyes, Clark led the entire NCAA in scoring. She lead the nation in both points and assists in her sophomore season, the first player in NCAA history to do so. In her junior season, Clark led the Hawkeyes to the national championship game. Her 41-point performance in the Final Four was a masterclass.
Beyond the Numbers
Clark’s impact goes far beyond the numbers. On the court, she’s brash. She has a swagger and style of play that has captivated people who wouldn’t normally be considered women’s basketball fans.
In college, Clark had endorsement deals with State Farm, Gatorade, and Nike. These totaled $3.1 million, making her the highest-earning NCAA women’s basketball player ever.
Clark just signed a multi-year deal with Wilson. She’s the first female athlete to have her own signature basketball line. A Nike shoe deal is also a rumored to be in the works.
Nike shoes — Like Mike. “Gotta be the shoes.” :)
Applying Her Traits for Achieve our Own Success
Manifest your desires — Clark has been manifesting a pro basketball career from the age of nine.
There’s power in visualizing your goals and working hard to make them a reality. I dreamed of being a lawyer, and after years of hard work, I made it happen. Now I dream of being a published author — I’ll let you know how that goes. :)
Challenge Yourself — Clark played against boys in her youth. She excelled, even winning MVP once.
Growth is often outside our comfort zone. Drafting that first chapter. Sending it to beta readers. Even that first query to an agent. All scary. But you have to do uncomfortable things to grow. It’s the only way I know.
Find your Pusher — Clark’s was her older brother. She credits him with being always “bigger, stronger, faster.” “Whenever I wanted to play with him and his friends…I never won anything, and my mom always said if you want to play with them, you’ve got to find a way to hold your own,” she told ESPN.
Find that person who supports you, but doesn’t let you rest on your laurels. Mine is my wife. She’d rather I cuddle up with her and watch the next Bridgerton (that show is so good), but she’ll push me to write or edit before bed (sometimes in bed — I prefer that).
Be humble — While known to be fierce on the court, Clark is humble off it. She always gives teammates credit in post-game interviews.
Be a good person. That’s not hard. Don’t be the crab that pulls those above you down. Give them a push and maybe they’ll lend you a claw so you can both escape the bucket.
Self belief — Clark has a high level of confidence and belief in her abilities. She has developed this belief through work. She takes those “logo” three-point shots. How many times must she have made that shot in practice to have the confidence to take it in a game? It’s a shot that will put you on the bench if you miss.
We have to believe in ourselves. If we don’t, who will? It’s hard work that gives us that confidence. Do the things you don’t want to do. I love writing, but I don’t love editing. It’s necessary and I know it. We have to do the hard things.
Greatness is not an accident. Anything worth having in life takes work. Caitlyn Clark puts in that work. So can we.
In the end, Caitlin Clark’s story is not just about basketball; it’s a story about what it takes to be great … at anything.
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