Paying The Price

Paying The Price

By:




As I sit to write this we are literally only days away from the XXth Winter Olympic
Games in Torino, Italy. At a recent speaking engagement someone asked me if I
would be competing and I pointed out that I had retired from the sport due to a
knee injury I had sustained.
As I later contemplated my answer I realize that that was only part of the truth. In
Nagano, I hobbled around on a knee swollen one and half times its size and
thought nothing of it. Having competed in three Olympic Games, I knew only too
well the enormous price exacted in order to compete at that level and this time, I
was simply unwilling to pay it. I was not willing to pay the price of being on the
bobsled circuit for months at a time and missing my children growing up. I was
not willing to pay the price of not pursuing my new love-a career as a
motivational speaker and author. I was not willing to spend the time to hone my
skills as bobsled driver choosing instead to invest that time learning and
developing my skills as an entrepreneur. I was willing to pay the price but not to
get back to the Olympics.
I am reminded of the story of the hostess at a cocktail party. She approached the
world famous concert pianist who had just given a wonderful recital and declared
that she would give anything to play like him. He looked at her thoughtfully trying
to find the kindest way to coach his response.
No you wouldnt. He finally said.
An embarrassed smile creased her face as she exclaimed
Yes, I really would!
No Madame He asserted.
You would love to play the way I play now, but I promise you, you would not be
willing to practice 8 hrs a day for the next 20 yrs to learn to play the way I do.
The silence in the room was deafening. Everyone present knew the pianist was
right and that the hostess was only deluding herself.
There is no free lunch. Everything has a price and whether you are competing at
the Winter or Summer Olympic Games or like all of us, in the Olympics of life you
must pay it. You can have anything you want as long as you are willing to pay the
price. The cost is exacted in different ways. Sometimes it is in dollars and cents.
Perhaps you need to use your life savings and at the same time borrow from
everyone you know to pursue a business opportunity. Maybe the cost is in timethe
hours, weeks and months you need to invest to get that college degree.
Probably it could be the sacrifices you need to make. What must you give up to
have what you want? The cost could also be in the form of personal growth. Not
just in terms of developing your skills and talents but also growing in terms of
developing your self-esteem and confidence, your ability to influence as well as
elevating your level of thinking.
You dont get an exciting career, a thriving business and live the life of your
dreams without paying the price. The price must be paid in full. It cannot be
bartered. Neither can you put on credit or layaway. Your willingness to pay the
price gives you the power to make your dreams come true. A refusal or hesitation
to do so, ensures that you dont get to march in the opening ceremonies of life.
Instead you are left outside the stadium listening to everyone else enjoying the
fruits of their labor and living their dreams.
Chuck Swindoll had this to say about paying the price: A piano sits in a room,
gathering dust. It is full of the music of the masters, but in order for such strains
to flow from it, fingers must strike the keystrained fingers, representing endless
hours of disciplined dedication. You do not have to practice. The piano neither
requires it nor demands it. If, however, you want to draw a beautiful music from
the piano, that discipline is required
You do not have to pay the price to grow and expand intellectually. The mind
neither requires it nor demands it. If, however, you want to experience the joy of
discovery and the pleasure of plowing new and fertile soil, effort is required.
Light wont automatically shine upon you nor will truth silently seep into your
head by means of rocking-chair osmosis. Its up to you. Its your move.
If you are unwilling to pay the price, then youll discover as others have, that it is
far more costly not to have paid it in the first place. Your willingness to pay it will
allow you to discover, as I have that achieving your goals will be different and
more difficult than you imagined.
You will discover strengths and abilities that you didnt know you had. You will be
amazed by how much your horizons have broadened and by how far you can take
yourself. In short if you are willing to pay the price it will be better and more
beautiful than you could ever have imagined.
Keep On Pushing!
Copyright (C) 2005 Devon Harris
All rights reserved worldwide
www.devonharris.com
The contents of this E-zine may be copied, reproduced, or freely distributed for all
nonprofit purposes without the consent of the author as long as the author's
name, copyright notice and contact information are included.

About the Author:
Three-time Jamaican Bobsled Team Olympian Devon Harris' message to "keep on pushing" inspires the rejected salesperson to rediscover his or her mojo, the stumped engineer to find a better solution, the overloaded executive to see a new path forward. Devon's real life story of perseverance and persistence combined with his powerful presence and persuasive ideas have positively impacted thousands at Fortune 100 companies, non-profits, governmental organizations, schools, and universities. He is the author of the motivational childrens book Yes, I Can! and the semi-autobiographical motivational book, Keep On Pushing: Hot Lessons From Cool Runnings.



Article Originally Published On: http://www.articlesnatch.com


Tags:

|

Loading...
Related....
Videos...

Recent Success Articles

Comments

Still can't find what you are looking for? Search for it!

Loading

Site Navigation:

Copyright 2005-2011 ArticleSnatch, LLC - All Rights Reserved.
Privacy Policy | Terms of Service.