We are all very proud of our University of Kentucky Wildcats for their diligence and perseverance in the SEC and NCAA tournaments.  Did we really think they would make it to the Final Four this year?  Maybe last season with John Wall and DeMarcus Cousins, but this team – not so much. So it has come as a delightful and welcome surprise that we are looking forward to a great weekend full of sports and Big Blue Mania.  So what happened?  Let’s face it – the pre-tourney season was good but not exceptional.  The Cats lost several road games and at times looked lackluster. Coach Cal seemed frustrated (although not as frustrated as Rick Pitino – haha) and even the SEC Title seemed questionable.

Then Great happened.  The team gelled and seemed like a well-oiled machine.  At the end of the games we just waited for the inevitable “choke” and loss and were instead thrilled with a determined team focused on the prize.  Brandon Knight and DeAndre Liggins came through with clutch shots and sealed the victory.  But let’s talk about the real story – Josh Harrellson.

When Good Just Won't Do - We Make it to the Final Four!

Josh is a senior and his previous contribution to the team has been – and yes I will say it – a big YAWN.  Sure, DeMarcus Cousins was the “Man” last year so Josh didn’t get much playing time but he also didn’t impress when he had opportunities.  So what happened?  Josh finally got it.  Coach Cal mentioned at the start of the season that Josh worked hard over the summer with strength training and was mentally and physically ready to take on the challenge of being a senior player and leader on the court.  Yeah, right.  I’ll have to see this to believe it.  In your face – says Josh Harrellson – I’m here to play – and he did.  Boy, did he play.  Josh improved his skills on the basketball court as far as his athleticism, but also as a team leader.  The team and the entire Big Blue Nation have been able to count on Josh this year for his tremendous play, cool head under pressure and ability to rally the team when they are down.  For whatever reason, Josh decided that good just wasn’t good enough.  He had his chance at greatness and he took it.  Nobody handed it to him.  Josh worked hard in the gym, on the court and in class to prove that he has what it takes to achieve greatness.

So this leads me to ask – what is it that will cause your greatness?  Will there be an epiphany or a eureka moment or will you, like Josh Harrellson, decide that you will seize the brass ring?  In his book “Good to Great” Jim Collins summarizes by asking “Indeed, the real question is not, ‘Why Greatness?’ but ‘What work makes you feel compelled to try to create greatness?”  If you have to ask the question, “Why should we try to make it great? Isn’t success enough?” then you’re probably engaged in the wrong line of work.

Milestone is committed to Greatness and your success.  What can we do to help you find or sell Kentucky houses?  What can you do to help yourself?  It isn’t easy to differentiate yourself from the crowd and be successful.  Over the next few weeks I will be interviewing some of our top agents to pass along insight into their success.  I trust that you will find their stories compelling and helpful as you travel your journey to Greatness.  But for now – GO CATS!