“It is easier to find men who will volunteer to die than to find those who are willing to endure pain with patience.” Julius Ceaser (Roman Dictator)
Over the years, I’ve enjoyed watching Everett, my 13-year-old son, learn what it takes to win.
As a kid, he would join the team, attend all the practices, and expect to win the game.
However, between practices, he didn’t understand the value of practicing even more, shooting around on his own time, or calling a friend to come over to practice with him.
And that’s ok, that’s how kids learn.
As he’s gotten older, he now realizes that it takes hard work not just at practice, but at home as well. He joins me on runs and strength training workouts in our garage nowadays. He knows strength and cardio go a long way in making him a better basketball player and swimmer.
Ultimately, everyone in sports wants to win. Likewise, most people want some successful combination of health, wealth, happiness, love, respect and achievement. But when it’s time to put in the work that’s needed to achieve or keep those things, far fewer people are willing to engage in the necessary actions.
Why is that? One might think that it’s a product of our culture’s low attention span, our desire for instant gratification, or our lack of work ethic. While these things contribute to the problem, I don’t think these things are the root.
I think Julius Caesar captures it. It’s that we are unwilling to endure pain with patience. We’re unwilling to do what it takes, to practice a long obedience in the same direction. We don’t like the pain, the alarm clock, the cold, the dark, the inconvenience. We’d rather take a pill and hope for the best.
I think Kobe Bryant displayed this well when a reporter asked if he could follow him for a day.
“Sure,” Kobe responded. “See you on the court at 4:00am tomorrow.”
The reporter arrived at 4am, only to find that not only was Kobe already there, but he was already in a full-on sweat.
Far be it from us to possess weak willingness.
Do the work.
Endure the pain.
Not because you’re egotistical, but because there’s work to be done.
Get better. Fight the pull towards apathy. Rise up. Get started.
The world needs you at your best.
Your family needs you at your best.
Your employer needs you at your best.
Too many occupy the space of complacency.
Be different.
Be better.
Get after it.
The time is now.
No more excuses.
Find your meaning.
Pursue your purpose.
Create your legacy.
Do the work.
And live on purpose today.
