Episode 26
A CONVERSATION WITH TAYSOM HILL
TAYSOM HILL | A STORY OF TRIUMPHS, TRIALS, AND THE PATH LESS TRAVELED
They say when one door closes another opens … and sometimes it’s because you force it to open.
I recently did a podcast episode with Taysom Hill, the football and business legend and a great friend of mine. He has an incredible story, and one part in particular stood out to me.
Throughout his college career, Taysom sustained multiple season-ending injuries. He told me about how devastating these injuries were, as they represented an entire off-season of work and preparation suddenly evaporating in a split second.
After one of these injuries, a friend of Taysom’s told him to take the same energy and competitiveness he felt on the football field, and apply it to the classroom.
At the time, Taysom had been studying finance at BYU, and so he decided to take his friend’s advice and go all-in. Not only did he crush it at the finance program thanks to his hard work, but he was also able to keep his mind strong for when he eventually returned to the football field.
I love his example of being willing to work hard at any opportunity that comes his way. Sometimes when a door shuts in our face, we get tempted to fear and slow down. But in reality that is the perfect opportunity to go find the next open door, even if that means we have to open it ourselves like Taysom did.
“Life is always easier when you choose to work hard no matter what.”
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FAVORITE QUOTE FROM TAYSOM:
“I didn’t want to wonder ‘What if?’”
After college, there was a chance that Taysom could go to the NFL, however it wasn’t certain due to his injuries. It was at this moment Taysom had a decision to make—did he call it quits and move on? Or did he try one last time?
And in the end, he decided he didn’t want to wonder “What if?”
He worked hard, and eventually made it into the NFL. After a lot of uncertainty and changes in direction, he got into the New Orleans Saints where he plays today.
The thing that inspires me about his story is that no matter the setback, Taysom was always willing to pick himself back up and fight hard. He never took the easier road—the one where he would sit back and wonder “What if?” Instead he played-all out, and has achieved great success because of it.