Since I was a kid, I had one dream. To do something great and memorable that would go down in the history books. That doesn’t mean I knew what it was at 5 years old. But I knew it would take a lot of hard work. My dreams were not long term dreams. They were about the ability to take tiny steps toward the ultimate prize. So when I was 6 years old, all I wanted was to win just one wrestling tournament. It took me 9 years to attain that goal. But I never gave up. I knew if I was persistent it would eventually occur.
Once I won that tournament in 9th grade, though, it started a domino effect. My confidence grew more and more. Each year brought more wins and bigger accolades. I also started to have injuries, but I realized that would be part of my journey. Everyone gets injured. So why quit because of a serious injury? Makes no sense to me. But a lot of people DO give up when it happens. Injuries, losses, failures all become a part of you and build your character. It teaches you to NEVER give up.
Whether it’s a serious injury, a tough loss, or something personal, accept it as part of your journey to success. You will have all kinds of obstacles to overcome if you’re looking to do something great and memorable. Ninety-nine percent of people will give up. Be that 1 percent that doesn’t.
So take those baby steps, and don’t ever say, “I quit.” You too will get your Gold. It’s true.
