The key to success? Getting the edge: "The whole idea is to somehow get an edge. Sometimes it takes a little extra something to get that edge, but you have to have it." -- Don Shula, former NFL coach

The edge is something you must have to be successful in athletics -- and in life. All great people have it. So can you. Hard work makes dreams come true. That's how you get the edge.

Howard Ferguson was the author of the book, "The Edge," a compilation of quotes, comments and motivational sayings. He was a highly successful college wrestling coach who died at the age of 51.

Ferguson lifted himself up by reading works by Thomas Jefferson, Ben Franklin, Dr. Norman Vincent Peale, Sir Winston Churchill, Vince Lombardi and Jack Kennedy. (I'm presently reading the biography of Ronald Reagan and finding it very inspirational).

Ferguson observed that if you decide to put a high priority on success, you will have to learn to compete. The trouble in America today, in business as well as in sports, is that too many people are afraid of competition. The result is that people have come to sneer at success if it requires hard work, training and self-sacrifice.

However, to succeed you have to go out and make your own luck.

Ferguson wrote:

Desire + Sacrifice + Discipline = Preparation

Preparation + Success = Confidence

Mental Toughness + Pride = Perseverance

If you are prepared, have confidence and persevere, you will always have the edge.

If you have the edge, you will always succeed. Eventually.

* * * * *

What is class? Class never runs scared. It is sure-footed and confident in the knowledge that you can meet life head-on and handle whatever comes along.

Jacob had it. Esau didn't. Symbolically, we can look to Jacob's wrestling match with the angel. Those who have class have wrestled with their own personal angel and won a victory that marks them thereafter.

Class never makes excuses. It takes its lumps and learns from past mistakes.

Class is considerate of others. It knows that good manners are nothing more than a series of petty sacrifices.

Class bespeaks an aristocracy that has nothing to do with ancestors or money. The most affluent blueblood can be totally without class, while the descendant of a Welsh miner may ooze class from every pore.

Class never tries to build itself up by tearing others down.

Class is already up and need not strive to look better by making others look worse.

Class can walk with kings and keep its virtue, and talk with crowds and keep the common touch. Everyone is comfortable with the person who has class -- because he is comfortable with himself.

If you have class, you don't need much of anything else. If you don't have it, no matter what else you have -- it doesn't make much difference.

* * * * *

If you are under 18 years old, you have only lived about one-fourth of your life. That means you have the remaining three-fourths of your life to accomplish anything you want. Don't blow it. Don't do drugs. If you are doing them, stop it. Get some help. If you haven't experimented with drugs, don't start. Give yourself a chance to succeed and be all the wonderful things you can be. -NBA guard

* * * * *

Who are your real friends? Some of your friends may try to influence you to do what they're doing, especially when it comes to smoking, drinking and doing drugs. What may appear to be usual peer group pressure may actually be a true test of friendship. Real friends will accept you for what you are, and they'll not try to change or force you to do things you don't want to do.

So, if you don't want to smoke -- don't. If you don't want to drink -- don't. And if you don't want to do drugs or steroids -- don't. It's your life. You alone must decide.

I hope you don't think we're trying to turn this very important message into a test. But please take a minute to answer three more questions to determine how your real friends will treat you:

* Will those friends of mine who are always after me to compromise my convictions be around when I'm in trouble? Will they help me?

* If they have no convictions, will they have a strong character?

* If they don't have a strong character, will they be loyal?

Think about it.

* * * * *

If you personally or your children are struggling with who you are, what's important in life, drugs, alcohol, tobacco ... besides the Bible and Christian fellowship ... you might purchase "The Edge" by Howard Ferguson.

In it more than 750 of the world's most successful competitors tell you how they deal with fame, fortune, defeat and drugs.

I recommend this positive reaffirmation of good goals in a time when so many in every community are facing personal lifestyle questions with too few heroes or uplifting standards being displayed around them.

~Gary Rust is president of Rust Communications, which owns the Southeast Missourian and other newspapers.