Motivational Story - How Am I Going To Get There?


 

1. Who am I? 
2. Who do I want to be? 
3. How am I going to get there? 

Three of the most important questions every athlete (or individual) should ask of him (or her) self and never fear to renew them on a yearly basis? 

Alec Ingold, a second-year starting fullback for the Las Vegas Raiders of the NFL, did so midway into his collegiate playing days at the University of Wisconsin. This type of exercise changed his focus entirely and helped him pursue the one Dream he held dear to his Heart – to play football on Sundays in the NFL! 

However, along the way, it was what Ingold discovered that I also want to bring to your attention. During his time at Wisconsin, he came in as a dual-threat quarterback who was asked to change positions on two different occasions – going from offense to defense (attempting to play linebacker) and then back to offense (learning the fullback position) to help fill a need on the depth chart. 

He ended up carrying the load as a freshman and played in every game. However for the next two seasons, his playing time began to diminish more and more. Did it leave a bitter taste for Ingold? Yes, but he did not blame anyone for the situation he was in. He said, “I wasn’t being accountable. I was at a point in my life where I had to look in the mirror and be like, ‘Who am I going to be?’ Like, ‘What am I going to stand for?’” 

Before he entered his senior year, he took out a piece of paper and wrote down the three questions stated up above and talked it through with himself. He also wrote down his goals and put them on his bedroom wall where he would see them every day. 

1) To win the starting fullback job. 
2) To get invited to the College Senior Bowl and NFL Scouting Combine. 
3) To get drafted by an NFL team. 

His dad (Pat) said: “That’s really when I knew Alec had grown up. He was really faced with some adversity, and he chose to fight.” 

Ingold eventually achieved his first two goals and was invited to the Senior Bowl, where he worked under Jon Gruden and his (then Oakland) Raiders coaching staff during a week of practices leading up to the game. He was also the only fullback among the draft-eligible prospects that were brought to Indianapolis to participate in the NFL Combine. 

The one goal that fell short, however, became the “worst day of my life” says Ingold. All 32 NFL teams passed him over. He was playing a position that most team play callers were just not employing in the current day NFL. Said Ingold: “You do everything right for such a long period of time, you’re healthy, you have people telling you you’re the best fullback. Then you don’t get drafted and it’s like ……?” 

Once again Ingold looked in the mirror and asked of himself this loaded question: WAS THE GOAL TO GET DRAFTED OR WAS THE GOAL TO BE AN NFL PLAYER? “That question is what helped me realize that the Draft wasn’t really the goal,” he said. “It was more so to be on the active roster of an NFL team and earning a starting job. That’s what needed to be the goal.” 

“So it’s almost like my vision grew,“ Ingold continued. “I was able to see who I really wanted to be. … I was like, OK, so this is what I thought we were going after, but actually no, it was about something much bigger.” 

In the days right after the entire NFL draft concluded, Ingold received a call from his Senior Bowl Coach. It was Jon Gruden from the Raiders. He offered Alec a free agent contract who would then not only beat the odds and make the Raiders Roster but he became a very key part of their short-yardage packages and a dependable blocker while starting all 16 games during his rookie NFL season in 2019. 

“I love that guy!” exclaimed Coach Gruden after watching Ingold play out his first season.  “If I’ve done anything right since I’ve been (back) here coaching the Raiders, it was the recruiting call I made to Alec Ingold.” 

Since Ingold was able to check off Goal No. #3, he now keeps another checklist of questions close by to him. They are: 

4) Believe in your Vision. 
5) Be Different. 
6) Maximize your Impact on the People around You. 
7) Everyone has a Legacy, what will Yours Be? 


Jim Loria 


MOTIVATIONAL QUOTE RELATING TO THIS STORY 

“I believe the single most significant decision I can make on a day-to-day basis is my choice of Attitude. It is more important than my Circumstances, or my Position. Attitude keeps me going or Cripples my Progress. It alone Fuels my Fire or Assaults my Hope”– stated by Charles Swindoll, Author, Educator and Pastor

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