Beneath the Surface of Success

“The world will reward in public, the sacrifices you make in private.” – Tony Robbins

While I don’t love the rah-rah cheerleader stage personality of Tony Robbins, I do appreciate the truth behind this statement. Unfortunately, human nature wants to skip the private sacrifices and go straight to the public praise. As a society, we are so enamored by the celebration of success that we often miss the foundation upon which those accomplishments are built.

We watch Lebron and Curry perform in front of a sold-out crowd but miss the thousands of monotonous free throws practiced in a dark gym, the countless drills and the hours upon hours in the weight room executed in private. We see the success and impact of a Musk, Gates or Bezos but fail to consider the sleepless nights, the financial, emotional and relational costs on top of the grueling effort and determination spent behind closed doors.

Achievement looks very glamorous in this social media age, but the path to getting there is often a tedious, painful and even lonely journey. And the latter is the story that is often missed. It’s the hidden roots of sacrifice – offered without fanfare or recognition – that grow and nourish the accomplishments we all see above the surface.

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Mindset Matters

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