Are You Willing to Sacrifice?

In the last couple of months, I’ve had the chance to get my podcast rolling again.  Each week I’ve had the opportunity to sit down and speak with accomplished athletes and coaches.  I have one guiding question that gets things going, and then we are off to the races for about an hour.  
 
Now that I’ve conducted about 20 interviews, I’ve gone back to listen.  Depending on the interview, I’ll go back and listen to certain responses to questions I have asked.  I keep a detailed journal of each interview, and if you’ve watched a video on YouTube, you’ll see that I wrote down responses or the time so I can go back and listen to nugget of information shared.  
 
One of the general themes that has come from each interview has had an at-length discussion about sacrifice.  The coaches have discussed this topic as well, but something about what the athletes’ have shared has really resonated with me.
 
All the athletes I’ve interviewed have made some type of sacrifice (money, travel, family, relocation, job, education) over the course of their athletic careers.  This is one trait that does indeed separate the good from the great and the great from the elite.  
 
What are you willing to sacrifice in order to achieve your goals—move across the country, quit a job, leave a loved one, a combination of all, etc.
 
Some people don’t achieve their goals because they are afraid.  Afraid to make a sacrifice.  Some settle.  There is nothing wrong with that.  Getting out of your comfort zone is difficult.  Remaining there may not lead us to achieving our goals.
 
We still will be able provide for ourselves, our families, those that depend on us.  Yet, there may always be a sense or feeling of ‘what-if’?
 
Taking that next step is what separates us.  Those that are willing to sacrifice and take a risk at least will know whether the sacrifice and risk was worth it—successful or not.
 
At least those will know.
 
Others will live with the uncertainty for the rest of their lives.  They may experience regret, frustration, and an uneasiness about themselves and the direction their lives are going.
 
The pain of regret is a difficult pain to live with.  Knowing you had a choice.  Knowing you had a chance.  Knowing you had the opportunity.
 
But you didn’t take it.
 
Why?
 
What held you back?  What fear paralyzed you enough in that moment to not proceed?  The fear of failure.  The fear of the unknown.  The fear…