There’s no doubting that some sports stars get paid an incredible amount of money to do what they do. In comparison to the average person it is indeed truly staggering amounts. If you believe the reports in media, some weekly wages exceed what some people can earn in 10 years.
As with anything, opinion divides. There are some who believe that these salaries are obscene, others believe they are deserved. Let’s remember though that we are talking about high profile, media driven sports. What about those at the top of their game that don’t attract this type of salary. What’s their reward?
I watched Sports Personality of the Year last night and of the 8 awards, 5 recipients in their acceptance speeches stated the same thing. No matter if they were a champion jockey with 18,000 races, a grand slam winning tennis player, a 16 year old gymnast or a 50 year old community coach, they all spoke of the hard work, dedication, loss and sacrifice they have had to make so far to get to where they are.
The amount of dedication, effort and sacrifice is incredible. But according to the winners last night it’s exactly what’s required.
Yes, last night was all about sport, but I think it was also about life. It’s not as if they split their day into 2, the part where they are working and the part where they do other things. Life’s life. 24 hours in a day. 365 days in a year. Always has been and always will be. Same for everyone.
No matter what you do, no matter what your skills and experience, if you want to get better, then you have to work at it. You have to dedicate the time to improve and with that comes sacrifice. Every time you say yes to something, you say no to something else. Equally though, when you say no to something, you open up the time to pursue what you want to do.
There is no magic answer. There is no shortcut. If you want to be a champion at what you do, whether that be an athlete, a business owner, a father, a mother, an artist or a administrator then the answer is simple.
Work hard at what you want to be, dedicate the time to be what you want to be. Decisions are not sacrifices; they will take you and those around you to where you want to go.
So what are you waiting for? You’re in charge. Go and do it, go and get what you want.
