You’ve made the team. Or been picked for the play. Or been accepted at a high school or college. Congratulations .. sort of.

Getting picked is only the beginning.

New York Mets broadcasters made this point during a recent telecast. They quoted Rick Peterson, a noted pitching coach, who told his players, “Your signing bonus is the last time you will be paid for velocity.”

In other words, certain gifts and physical traits — like throwing a baseball 90 mph — help you get noticed. After that, it’s up to you. You must grow. You must develop those gifts. You can never allow yourself the luxury of thinking you have arrived.

When baseball pioneer Jackie Robinson produced his autobiography, he titled it, “I Never Had It Made.” Take his title and make it your own. You can get better. In fact, you better get better.

This week while in Puerto Rico, I had the chance to work with a young man who wants to earn a baseball scholarship. He’s at a baseball academy. I gave him a plan. Now he must work it. It’s up to him whether he can beat the odds.

“When you are not practicing, remember, someone somewhere is practicing, and when you meet him he will win.” That’s the mantra of Tom Fleming, two-time winner of the New York City Marathon.

Remember, no matter where you are, it’s only the beginning. It’s what you do from here.