It is a long long road to world class. A journey filled with many ups and downs. But in the end the reality is there. World class is not found in the winning of tournaments, or the victory over our opponents. It is found within our performance. It is found within our hearts. Not only do we play at a world class level, we have become world class people. Rarely do you see a fine pool player who is not a fine person.

In my book "The Lesson", I have a mid term exam. If you have any trouble or weakness in your game, the mid term exam will reveal it to you. The numbers don't lie. In the mid term exam you rack up a rack of nine ball and break the rack with your best stroke. This is the first inning. Take the lowest two balls off the table, and begin with ball in hand. Run out. You can keep the inning alive if you complete the run out. Break the rack again. The first successful rack gives you one point and allows you to attempt a second rack. If you are successful in the second rack, you will receive four total points. That will complete inning number one. If you fail in the first rack of the inning, the inning is over. In order to get to the second rack, and have a chance at four points, you must be able to run the first rack. Your mid-term exam will include four innings. At any time during your mid-term exam, when you break the balls, you have the option of running out from there. If you make a ball, and have a shot on the one ball, you can declare. You must say the words, "I declare". If you succeed with the declare, you receive five points and that's the end of the inning. So if you take the mid-term exam, run everything, including a declare, you have a perfect score of twenty one points. When you can score a sixteen or better, three times in a row, you are a world class player. If you are having trouble with the mid term exam, a weakness is revealed to you. Determine what it is, and spend some time working on it.

If I am discouraged by my low scores, I know that I am not focusing on the performance. I have my eyes on the scores. In this journey, if you know where you are going, you will not be discouraged. The ups and downs are simply a part of the game. Once I take my eyes off the scores and go about the task of making balls, my scores go up and up.

Take the mid-erm exam and begin to build your game. Define the type of player you are and take this world class game to that venue. Stay within your element. Stay focused. May all the rolls go your way.