So, you might already 
know that I have a dual focus for 2012… Not just building my bottom line (of course!) but also to LOSE what I call my “business bottom.” (Business bottom is a new term that — like “baby weight” — pinpoints WHY you’ve gained weight… In my case, too much focus on my business, not enough on my health. ‘Nuf said.)
Anyway, I’ve been working out with Beach Body videos and one of them is Tony Horton’s ten-minute trainer — which counts down from ten minutes in the bottom left corner of your screen. My son occasionally does one of the workouts with me. Last night, he came out with the sort of comment that represents the pure wisdom only a child can portray so powerfully. Laughing at the ridiculousness of the thought as it crossed his mind, this is what he said,
Mom, what if someone QUIT when they only had five seconds left to go?
He was laughing because of the insane (to him) idea that someone would put in all of that work for 9 minutes and 55 seconds and QUIT without seeing it through…. quit so close to the finish line? PREPOSTEROUS to a nine-year old.
But acceptable for far too many adults.
I remember back in 2008 watching Michael Phelps win a Gold medal… winning by only 1/100 of a second.
When you watch the last second of this race replayed over and over, it is obvious how he “stole” the lead at the last second – literally. You see the man who won the Silver Medal finished his last stroke, and being so close to the wall, coasted towards the touchpad with his arms outstretched. In that last second, however, Michael took one more bold stroke and almost “landed” on the touchpad… and WON.
I’m not a huge Olympics fan, but WOW!!! I’m remembering his last second victory today, and thought I’d re-share some of the thoughts I posted the morning after the event.
** “Coasting” will sometimes cost us the Gold. To dominate any field, we must stay in action.
** ACTION always wins.
** The difference between first and second place is sometimes almost negligible.
The harsh reality is that all of us have a time ticker…. decreasing second by second in our lives. We’re always against the clock… whether it’s the time-limitations of a finite work day (a limitation I know all too intimately)… or the weight of an impending deadline… or the tick tock of the ULTIMATE clock of “how much time do I have left on this Earth?”
Whatever clock you’re watching, let’s commit to hustle to the bitter end. Life’s too short to coast. Business is too fast-paced to miss a stroke.
In the words of Rihanna, “Victory’s within the mile. Almost there, don’t give up now.”
I’m rooting for you!
xox,
Michelle
