When will I feel different?

Most people who win or accomplish something difficult eventually ask themselves a version of this question...

"When will I feel different?"

It is a valid question.

After all, when you come in first...

You have won against impossible odds.

Leaving a lot of truly talented people with second and third place trophies and prize money.

Here is a two part answer to that question:

1.You probably won't feel different

2.That is probably a good thing.

When we dream of doing remarkable things we build up a celebration scene in our minds that we will one day enjoy outside of our imagination.

After every hard day while perusing this goal we keep ourselves motivated with this story.

Sometimes we even convince ourselves that after this victory everything will be different somehow.

Concluding that something must be different after such a giant accomplishment.

The reality of life is that even a massive victory is a passing moment like all moments are.

The important change in our life should be that we now know for sure that winning is not the point of doing what we do.

But if the former is true, what is at the core of what we do?

For me, It is the pursuit of more and the personal challenge of the chase required prior to winning.

It is a standard of living filled with discipline, pride and personal accountability.

The pursuit of the next challenge is more ingrained in the human spirit than resigning to a life of floating in the pool of past prizes.

For most people I know who have achieved some (or many) big goals, not much changes about life.

Even the novelty and creature comforts that winning can offer will not likely change what we enjoy daily.

Does it matter if you can buy a $3000 espresso machine if you hate espresso?

I will never forget sitting in the living room of my college best friends parent’s penthouse in Naples Florida.

His father, (my now dear friend) burst through the front door/elevator that opens to the foyer.

He was overjoyed that he discovered a peanuts that were 50% off and he told of us his journey to acquiring them.

"Such a deal!" as he often says.

This moment was before I myself had experienced any of my greatest achievements and I remember understanding very clearly as I gazed out of the window over the everglades, that the chase is perhaps the most important part of the win.

The sweet would never taste as sweet if it were not for the sour.

The sometimes sour but necessary chase that must come before the next win is what gives us the ability to celebrate the magnitude of our accomplishments.

Even the finest wine turns to vinegar once opened and sits for some time.

Achieving big goals is no different.

The sweetness of the most tremendous V.S.P of victories turns to

something less once the champagne toast in the winners circle becomes a memory to file away with the rest.

So what now?

Maybe you already know but if you don’t know…

Do not fret about it.

It will come to you as naturally as breathing eventually.

How do I know?

Because winners like to keep winning and the world has many more challenges to conquer.

What a beautiful thought.

To think that your greatest accomplishments have not happened yet.

Cheers to that.