One of my son’s former Alpine Snowboard Racing teammates just won the Gold…for Russia. We’re not Russians. He’s not a Russian. Vic Wild was born and raised in the good ‘ole US of A, but last year jumped ship to race for team Russia. He was determined to win the Olympics in his sport, and he did.
When my son first told me about his teammate marrying a Russian snowboard racer and moving to Moscow, the first thing I thought was, “Vic Wild. With a name like that he’s destined to succeed.” Reading about Wild in the press validates everything my son told me, but did not know if I could believe. I mean, how many times have we parents heard, “If you don’t let me go, I’ll die!” To which most parents would say, “Yes, we’re all going to die, but No, I’m not going to let you jump off a bridge with all your friends.”
To my astonishment all the stories about other athletes being fully funded, year round, by their countries are true. We’re not talking a few snowboards and some t-shirts —we’re talking thousands of dollars of equipment and specialty clothing plus living expenses, housing, coaching, year round training hills, airfare to other countries to train when there’s no snow in your country, airfare to competitions around the world, hotels, meals, medical expenses. Have I missed any thing? All for the chance at securing little piece of metal currently priced at $1,322 per ounce.
My son did not make Team USA this year. Only one 30+ year old Alpine Snowboard racer represented the United States in this event. No women. No one else qualified to the high standards sent by the US committee. In our country, not only do athletes need to make the minimum criteria, but they also need to win at least one World Cup Alpine Snowboard Race within the last year. The US Olympic Committee is not going to throw money away on anyone who does not have a chance at bringing home the bacon.
How many times have you heard, “life is not fair”? If that’s the case, and I truly believe it is, the next question becomes, “So, what are you going to do about it?” Are you willing to do whatever it takes to succeed? And what does that really mean, “Do what ever it takes?”
Deep down I know what that it means. It’s hard to admit, but I do, indeed, know what it takes to win in business and in life. So, what am I going to do about it?
What are you going to do about it?
