Not sure who needs to hear this story today but I have no doubt there are some who do – and others who may in the future. So I thought I’d share it, courtesy of my friend Tim Boivin who first shared it with me.

Hopefully the link works and you can read the full story. But just in case I will summarize it here.

Today we all know Mike Trout as an 11-time Major League Baseball All-Star and a standout hitter and outfielder ow playing for the Los Angeles Angels. Even those who don’t follow baseball closely have probably heard the name.

He’s definitely one of the top current players in the game and will likely make the Hall of Fame in either his first or one of his first years of eligibility. His career stats include a batting average of .299, on base percentage of .410, slugging percentage of .510 and on base + slugging (OPS) at a hefty .991.

Back in 2008, however, Trout was invited along with 99 other players to try out for the USA Baseball National team. You would think someone with his skill and athletic ability, demonstrated over years at the highest level of the game, would be a lock for something like that.

But he wasn’t. He was kind of an unknown going in and didn’t have the hype some of the other players did.

So when the powers that be assembled the final 18-player roster, Mike Trout’s name wasn’t on it.

I’m sure it hurt, to come that close and not make it. But he didn’t let it deter him.

Instead, Mike Trout continued to work on his game and play his heart out, and he eventually rose to outshine all those players who were selected instead of him.

You see, that’s the thing. It really doesn’t matter where you start the race, only where you finish it.

I mean, the world is full of stories like this – Michael Jordan not making his high school varsity basketball team as a sophomore, The Beatles being turned down by every major record label in Britain, and so forth.

So maybe you tried out for a team and didn’t make it. Or maybe you’re on a team but not getting many opportunities to show what you can do.

It’s easy to get discouraged and give up in that type of situation. But instead of hanging your head and letting others define you, keep working at it.

You may only have so much natural ability or athleticism but you can have a boundless supply of desire, determination, and positive attitude if you want it. Use those qualities to lift yourself up and someone will recognize it.

At some point, you will get an opportunity to show what you can do somewhere. When that happens, make sure you’re prepared to take advantage of that opportunity.

Give it all you’ve got and good things will happen.

And always remember sometimes the things we desire most may not be the things that are best for us in the long run. But as they say in Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle, the universe tends to work out the way it should.

So if you’re facing disappointment today, shed a few tears or overturn a few tables or deal with it however you deal with it. Then get back to work.

And someday you may find someone writing an inspirational story about you.

Mike Trout photo by Ian D’Andrea on Flickr