What Separates the Best from the Very Best?

In 1980 he was speed skating himself to 5 Olympic Gold Medals in Lake Placid. Five years later he was cycling himself to a U.S. Professional Cycling Championship. Today he is widely respected Orthopedic Surgeon. I would have to say that Eric Heiden is an ambitious guy. And I would also say that he learned some lessons along the way.

People will sometimes ask me why I pursue or why I enjoy endurance sports. They will ask me what would drive me to do an Ironman. A part of it is the quality of life it gives me. The feeling of being healthy and having the endurance to outlast your children. But the other part of it is the sense of accomplishment. The confidence that you gain when you set a lofty goal and achieve it. For me, it was easier to set a lofty goal in the physical realm and use that to spur me on in other areas. But for others, it may be quite different. They may have to use achievement in a different area to spur them on in the physical realm.

“Once I had that confidence, the sky was the limit.” – Eric Heiden

“What I think separates the best from the very best is the degree of mental toughness.” – Eric Heiden

While there may be the occasional overnight success…for most, if not nearly all…success is a process. It is a continual effort of putting forth your very best, and being unwilling to give up…ever. At some point in this process many people make the decision to give up…they cave to the pressures of mediocrity…they listen to the voices of those that have been in similar positions and gave up before they reached the success that was awaiting them. And the sad thing is that these people usually don’t want to see others succeed where they have failed. But for those that choose to stay the course and not give in to the negative thoughts and the negative words of others; they will have the opportunity to experience the success that awaits them

Take a thorough survey of your current situation…determine where you are in this process and what steps you should be taking and the steps you have already taken. Where have they gotten you? Where are you now?

God has incredible plans for you…plans to prosper you and give you a future. What are you going to do with these plans?

Psalm 33:11-12 – “But the plans of the LORD stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations. Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people he chose for his inheritance.”

Have a blessed day,

RodZ

© 2008 – Rodney Zimmerman – All rights reserved