But like a lot of very tall centers, Russell was never much  of a free throw shooter. His free throw percentage was quite a bit below average  in fact. But this low percentage didn't really give a clear picture of  Russell's ability as an athlete. And in one game he gave a very convincing  demonstration of this.

It was the final game of a championship series between  Boston and the Los Angeles Lakers. With about twelve seconds left to play, the  Lakers were behind by one point and Boston had the ball. It was obvious that  the Lakers would have to foul one of Boston’s players in order to get the ball  back, and they chose to foul Bill Russell.

This was a perfectly logical choice since statistically  Russell was the worst free throw shooter on the court at that moment. If he  missed the shot, the Lakers would probably get the ball back and they’d still  have enough time to try to win the game. But if Russell made his first free  throw, the Lakers’ chances would be seriously diminished. And if he made both  shots, the game would essentially be over.

Bill Russell had a very peculiar style of shooting free  throws. Today, no self-respecting basketball player anywhere in America would  attempt it. Aside from the question of whether it’s an effective way to shoot a  basket, it just looked too ridiculous. Whenever he had to shoot a free throw,  the six-foot-eleven Russell would start off holding the ball in both hands  about waist high, then he’d squat down and as he straightened up he’d let go of  the ball. It looked like he was trying to throw a bucket of dirt over a wall.

But regardless of how he looked, as soon as Bill Russell was  fouled, he knew the Celtics were going to win the game. He was absolutely  certain of it because, in a situation like this, statistics and percentages  mean nothing. There was a much more important factor at work, something that no  one has found a way to express in numbers and decimal points.

Simply put, Bill Russell was a player who wanted to take  responsibility for the success or failure of his team. He wanted the weight on  his shoulders in a situation like this. No possibility for excuses. No  possibility of blaming anyone else if the game was lost. No second guessing.  Bill Russell wanted the ball in his own hands and nobody else’s. And, like  magic, even if he’d missed every free throw he’d ever shot in his life before  this, he knew he was going to make this one. And that is exactly what happened.

That is what virtually always happens when a man or woman  accepts responsibility eagerly and with confidence. I’ve always felt that  accepting responsibility is one of the highest forms of human maturity. A  willingness to be accountable, to put yourself on the line, is really the  defining characteristic of adulthood.

1. Fear. Fear is one of  the worst enemies of success. When fear wraps its tentacles around you and  keeps you in bondage, you will never be able to reach for your dreams. We must  confront our fears, see them for what they are, toss them to the side, and  pursue our dreams with relentless passion. Conquering fear and stepping forward  to reach new lands and new ideas is what makes success possible. What are you  afraid of today? What fear must you conquer to be able to achieve your dream?  When you realize what it is, take an action that is diametrically opposed to  that which you fear. This will confront and conquer the fear by giving you the  first step in the right direction.

2. Lethargy. Quite  frankly, what keeps most people from success is that they simply don't have the  energy, or make the energy, to do what it takes to move to the next level. They  get to a point that is comfortable and then they settle in for a nice, lifelong  nap! Don't get lethargic; get going! Force yourself to wake up from the slumber  and move!

3. Lack of perseverance.  Oftentimes the race is lost because the race is not finished. Success is often  just around the sharpest corner or the steepest hill. Persevere. Keep going.  One more hill. One more corner! In real estate they say the three most important  things are "location, location, location." In success the three most  important things are "perseverance, perseverance, perseverance."

4. Pessimism. The saying  is that you can achieve what you believe. Ask yourself what kinds of beliefs  you hold. Are you an optimist or a pessimist? If you don't believe that you can  achieve then you won't. Your pessimism will prove yourself right every time.  You will find that you subconsciously undermine yourself. Develop your  optimism. Look for ways to believe that you can achieve success.

5. Not taking  responsibility. I am the chaplain for the local police department. The other  day I went with an officer as he took two prisoners to court. Time after time  the prisoners made excuses as to why they hadn't yet done what the judge had  ordered (she didn't buy it, by the way). After dropping the prisoners off, I  said to the officer that unsuccessful people and prisoners have the same bad  habit—they won't accept responsibility for their lives. You are responsible.  When you accept that, you are on the road to success.

6. Picking the wrong  people to hang out with. We can easily become products of our environment. This  is why it is essential to hang around people who will spur you on, not hold you  back! What about the people you have surrounded yourself with? Are they quality  people who will encourage you and strengthen you in your quest for success? If  not, move on!

7. No vision. Those who  succeed always see their success months and years before they live it. They  have the ability to look ahead, see the future, imagine the good that can and  will come from their lives, families and work. To not have vision is a  tremendous roadblock. Sit down and work on seeing the future—and make it good!