Even when he’d reached the top of his game playing for the Celtics, Larry Bird’s daily training program was legendary: a long-distance run, practice with teammates, sit-ups, and short-distance runs – all sandwiched in between demanding shooting drills.
Veterans and rookies alike admired and marveled at Larry’s commitment to practice. Although he was in top physical condition, he still showed up hours earlier than anyone else to work on every facet of his technique. With only a few attendants and season ticket holders watching, he once took 300 practice shots before a big game. No wonder he was called the “Parquet Picasso!”
Larry’s intense practice reflected his desire to excel as well as his love of basketball. He once observed: “That’s the number one thing, the desire…. I don’t think you can teach desire. I don’t know why I have it, but I do.”
What inspiration we as writers can take from Larry! His desire to perform to his full potential and intense commitment to practice—these can be game changers for us! With constant and continuous practice, Larry made constant and continuous improvements in his field of play. And the same can be true for us.
What can we learn from Larry Bird’s work ethic? A lot! First, we can commit to reaching a level of excellence, just as he did. Second, we can come up with a daily regimen designed to strengthen our skills at everything from plotting to penning dialogue. Then there’s the physical training he did to keep his energy and mental alertness at their peak. As writers, we also need to exercise so that we can bring stamina and mental clarity to our work.
There’s so much we can learn from watching an artist in fields outside our own fuel their creativity — whether it’s the “Parquet Picasso” or the gifted hands of a top surgeon. Everyone who excels has something to teach us as we all write on!
