9 Seconds

As I’m writing this, I’m sure many of you are enjoying watching the Olympics. I have been as well. At times I’ve been in awe of the athletes and at others, I’ve been devastated by their defeats. And at other times, I’ve thought, “Wow, I can’t believe that’s a sport.”

Usain Bolt, eight-time gold medal winner, and the one-time “fastest person on earth” and still world-record holder in the 100 meter dash, the 200 meter dash, and the 4x100 meter relay, has a great quote that’s worth sharing here.

Bolt said, “I trained four years to run nine seconds, and people give up when they don’t see results in two months.”

Four years of training, six days a week, all day long, for something that’s over before you read the first paragraph above.

Why would someone do that? Why would they sacrifice all that time and energy with zero guarantee of success? Why would they fight back from injuries? Why wouldn’t they just give up a few months in because it’s too hard?

Absurd questions, right? But only because we know how that part of Bolt’s story ends. So of course he wouldn’t give up. Because then he wouldn’t be a champion or a legend. Kids around the globe wouldn’t look up to him.

We wouldn’t even know his name.

This part of your story isn’t over. And I know it’s probably hard right now. But don’t give up just because it’s hard. Your biggest victories might be just on the other side of this.