Our world puts a premium on achieving results vs. how to conduct our lives purposefully.
It is time to drop the anvil; declaring this premium to be misguided and wrong.
I watched the Winter Olympic Games with great interest. While the participants were overjoyed at winning various medals, I was mesmerized by the stories of certain athletes who sacrificed so much just to represent their countries.
The vast majority of these athletes faced many obstacles and challenges; the process of how they arrived in Pyeongchang and the feeling of participation far surpassed the obsession of achieving results.
The Nigerian Bobsled team comprised of three women became the first team to ever represent an African country. They finished last out of twenty teams yet their spirit and respect for other athletes teaches us the importance of perseverance and effort.
Two athletes from Mongolia, one male and female participated in cross country skiing. In one of the most physically demanding sports both stepped up to the plate with little resources and training to represent their country. They did so with pride and respect for other athletes who cheered them on.
The men’s curling team from America led by John Schuster did not in the last two Olympics achieve results. Underfunded and demoralized, they could have thrown in the towel.
They forged forward completing an improbable turnaround and won the gold medal. We were moved by their gratitude, sportsmanship, and the cheers from John Schuster’s four year old boy. Any parent worth their salt was moved to tears.
It is imperative in our personal and business lives to not permit ourselves to be defined by others. “How we live and conduct our lives is more important than the outcomes or results we end up with.”
Our journeys are largely defined by our purpose. Find your passion and pursue the dreams that matter.
My friends please remember this: respect, consideration, and courtesy matter a lot. Treat others fairly, decently, and equally.
Build your moral compasses carefully and always monitor them daily.
You know the battle cry: do your best each day. No one can ask more or less from any of us.
All the best/blessings, Mark
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