In the Blink of an Eye

Every second is of infinite value” [Goethe].

The Olympics has the power to remind us, like few other events outside of the passing of a loved one, how important it is to take advantage of every single second that life bestows.

Your life consists of this one second — right now, before being replaced with the next one. For a brief whisper of time, you have the power to influence, change, risk, love, hope, be, do . . . whatever, before the moment is lost. Swallowed up by another opportunity, never to return.

In the sporting events broadcast from Vancouver, athletes don’t even have an entire second.

The margin between a gold medal and no medal is often measured in the blink of an eye, and many times needs to be replayed in slow motion so we can actually see what occurred.

The thing which determines if the competitor wins it all or returns home as just another anonymous challenger is measured by the effort, skill, endurance, and courage played out in a hundredth of a second.

Think about that for a moment. You train and sacrifice and train and sacrifice for years to prove yourself in less time than it takes for your heart to beat.

One of my favorite quotes is by Tom Fleming, “Somewhere in the world someone is training when you are not. When you race him, he will win.”  I think this is a good philosophy for life, not just for racing.  I once read that it’s not the will to win that makes the difference, but the will to prepare to win that’s critical.

Training for life is not much different than training for competition. Your character, your values, the intensity of your preparation is revealed in the split second you make the decision to act — when all of your preparation is put to the test.

What will history record about you today?  Hopefully, it will be your integrity, gratitude, and courage — your determination to give it all you’ve got in the final push.

“Life is not lost by dying; life is lost minute by minute, day by day, in all the thousand small, uncaring ways [Stephen Vincent Benet].

Train yourself to live decisively, to take full advantage of each opportunity and live life to your fullest potential.

Whatever you are, realize you can make the difference in the blink of an eye!

Deanna

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Overnight Success

Spectacular achievement is always preceded by unspectacular preparation” [Robert H. Schuller].

Winning is fun. Becoming successful is something most of us strive for, regardless of our field of endeavor. We dream of being an “overnight success” and enjoying the fame, riches, and notoriety that comes with it. We celebrate the stars, the big shows, the flashy productions, the gold medals.

We measure success by book deals inked, degrees obtained, promotions achieved, roles awarded, clients signed, and trophies won. The headlines, parades, articles, video clips, morning news program, and late night talk shows celebrate spectacular achievement.

What we are hesitant to discuss, however, is the preparation that is required to scale the pinnacles of success. Why is that? Why do we minimize the planning and effort, the long nights and disappointing days, the empty bank accounts, the staff turnover, the uninteresting yet critical research, the persistence, the rejection, and the dead ends — the hard work — that is part of the process?

“Perseverance is the hard work you do
after you get tired of doing the hard work you already did”
[Newt Gingrich].

Could it be, that we want others to think we achieved success easily, encountering few obstacles or disappointments? Have we convinced ourselves that by revealing the “dirty little secrets” of preparation, sweat, and hard work required to reach the goal, our “superior talent” appears diminished?

Don’t be absurd! Celebrate the journey. Each challenge you have overcome, every disappointment you have experienced, and the dead ends you have encountered, do not signal failure. “What is defeat? Nothing but education; nothing but the first step to something better” [Wendell Phillips].

I’ve learned what George Washington Carver said is true, “There is no short cut to achievement. Life requires thorough preparation — veneer isn’t worth anything.” The bad news is there really is no such thing as an “Overnight Success.” The good news is that your preparation will pay off if you are willing to stay the course. Regardless of where you are in the journey — if yesterday was a crushing disappointment or a jubilant victory — you decide the next step.

A man can be as great as he wants to be. If you believe in yourself and have the courage, the determination, the dedication, the competitive drive, and if you are willing to sacrifice the little things in life and pay the price for the things that are worthwhile, it can be done” [Vince Lombardi].

Whatever you are, be a good one!

Deanna

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