Are you ready to go from benchwarmer to champion?

If you’ve ever felt like a third-stringer who’s stuck on the bench, Cardale Jones has news for you. You just might be one opportunity away from super success.

Jones started the football season warming the bench as third-string quarterback for Ohio State University. Then the first-string QB suffered an injury (before the first game), and so did the backup (during the last game). Jones got the starting nod for the first post-season game.

He seized the opportunity, leading the Ohio State Buckeyes to a 59-0 blowout of Wisconsin (to win the Big Ten Championship). Then he QBed the team to a 42-35 win over Alabama (in the Sugar Bowl). Then he made it three-for-three with a 42-20 win over Oregon (to put Ohio State on top as the national champion).

Let’s pause to review what happened in that championship game: The team that was led by a third-string quarterback with two career starts beat the team that was led by a Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback with 40 career starts.

It’s a tremendous story about football in general and Cardale Jones in particular. But it’s also a story about life — and about people like you and me.

We’ve all been in situations where we feel like we’re stuck on the bench.

It can happen in our careers (“They didn’t call me back for a second interview”), on the job (“I’m never picked to lead the big projects”), in our pursuits beyond work (“The book agent said my manuscript was good but not good enough”), in our attitudes (“I’m always falling short”), and in so many other areas.

The key is to keep thinking and acting like a first-string champion, whatever the current circumstances. Because you never know when you’ll get your breakthrough opportunity.

Cardale Jones took practice seriously. He knew the playbook inside out. He was fully prepared when the coach called his name. It paid off big when he stepped up against Wisconsin. And it paid off even bigger against Alabama and Oregon.

If Jones had operated with a mopey third-fiddle mentality during the first three months of the season, there’s no way OSU would’ve won.

So stand tall. Believe in yourself. Know your playbook. Upgrade from working hard to working harder.

You’ll be ready to win when opportunity calls your name.

By Tom Terez • Contact