At one point or another, practically every American boy dreams of being a professional baseball player. But this time of year, I have to admit these fellows face one of the most miserable jobs I can imagine. They have to play baseball in August.

It's one thing to get your glove on and head to Florida for spring training, when the air is first turning warm and the excitement of a new season lies ahead. But around August, everything changes. The crowds dwindle, as fickle fans turn their attentions elsewhere. Temperatures soar well above 100. For teams who've had a rough first half, hopes of making the playoffs are already virtually dead. In cities where hope remains, the excitement and energy of a playoff run are still weeks away.

In a couple of weeks, college and NFL teams will begin practice, and sometimes it will seem as if nobody cares about the "boys of summer" any more. Sure, there's some excitement over Barry Bonds' impending home run record, but that doesn't mean much if you're playing in Chicago or Boston.

In other words, August is the month when the real stars earn their keep. The good ones know that a game in mid-August ' played in front of a few thousand fans -- counts exactly the same as one in the heat of the pennant race in late September. They find a way to get motivated and get the job done.

The same is true as we trudge through the August of a tough season in real estate. The excitement isn't always there, but the job is. Our customers deserve our best, and we have to dig down and find a way to deliver results.

Greatness isn't defined only in those magical days of October when the world's attention turns back to baseball for a week or two. Because the ones who slack off when it's too hot or too depressing won't be playing in the World Series.

That's the difference between a star and a wannabe.