Wednesday; August 4

One of the things I like the most about the Olympics is that it is an international stage for some great performances – especially the upsets. I am not as big a fan of the “scored” events as I am of the head-to-head tests of ability that are decided by speed or distance. I am thrilled to watch as someone comes from out of nowhere to win a race or place first in an event. We know that all those who show up in the stadium at this level have talent, the question is who will put forth the best effort to win. These competitions can be won by one extraordinary effort or a really good day. There is something warm and fuzzy about someone from a small country, an upstart or someone in the twilight of their career pulling off the upset. As they say, that’s why they play the game.
The thing that will lead to Olympic victory is often summed up in two words -focus and effort. Often, the person who wants the victory the most is the one who wins. As I thought about this in the Olympic Games, I realized it is true in life as well. While it is easy to discount the underdogs, they can be victorious by trying harder. They may not have the most natural talent, but by working harder, they can gain the victory.
Is there something we really want in life? We have two choices, we can wait until someone gives it to us or we can funnel our focus and effort to go after the prize. Do we really want to rely on someone else’s work to reach our goals?

Think About It!

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