Perseverance, Hard Work, Selflessness

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I enjoy good character stories wherever I find them, and here is a story about a solid work ethic and frugality in Bronco fullback Andy Janovich. The headline in the ESPN article involves his beat-up blue, used pickup truck that he’s had since college.

Denver Bronco fullback Andy Janovich and his used pickup

He’s relatively low paid at $600,000/year (by contrast, Peyton Manning took a $4 million pay cut to earn “only” $15 million his last year with the Broncos), but Janovich could afford a new truck if he wanted one, couldn’t he?

But the truck he has suits him, and when it goes (it has 138,000 miles on it), he’ll look for another used one. In the meantime, he just does his largely-under-the-radar job. The ESPN article observes:

Open the hood on Janovich, and the Nebraska native is a story in perseverance, hard work and vocational selflessness — and there is even some corn. “He’s what you think about as a Nebraska guy,” Broncos running back Phillip Lindsay said. “He works, does his job, doesn’t ask for anybody to cheer him on or anything. He just does it.”

In a league (and a world!) where everyone is screaming, “Look at me!” Janovich summarizes his perspective:

I’m not at a position where I’m going to score a bunch of touchdowns or have a million catches or rushing yards. For the most part, I just block people and make small plays here and there, help other people make big plays. I’ve never been the playmaker. And do I like my job? Absolutely. It works for me.

“And do you seek great things for yourself? Seek them not. (Jeremiah 45.5, ESV)

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