Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Secret to Success in Life


I'll tell you a secret, it's something a lot of people have heard but few people actually practice. It took me a long time to figure it out but I can happily say I try to do it everyday. Some days are more difficult than others and I need to remind myself that "it's just another day in paradise." Those are the favorite words of an incredible human being who understood that it doesn't matter what you do in life, if you love what you are doing and you are happy doing it you will always be successful, ALWAYS.

Dr. Bob Breedlove was an orthopedic surgeon who understood the secret to success in life is not based on your environment or circumstances, it's inside you. He was an incredible ultracyclist who participated in the "Race Across America" and completed it a record 5 times, tragically he was struck and killed by a car on his 6th attempt after riding 1100 miles. Witnesses say he slumped over his handlebars and veered into oncoming traffic, probably due to exhaustion. RAAM is the most grueling event on the planet as cyclists attempt to cross America in under 12 days with little to no sleep, day and night. The winner finishes in 8 or 9 days and looks like a shell of their former self. It is the most basic of human endurance events that forces you to keep going in the face of every conceivable challenge you can possibly think of. Bob Breedlove was an absolutely incredible human being, one of the most kind and caring souls in the race he was always willing to help someone in need, even if it meant putting his own ambitions 2nd. He always had a smile on his face and when other riders were tired, irritable, and breaking down he would flash a smile and say, "it's just another day in paradise." He understood that no matter how big the challange, in racing and in life, he was doing what he loved and facing it with a smile made it effortless.

I think we can all learn from Dr. Bob who taught us that it doesn't matter what you are doing, in work, training, or life in general, facing it with a smile and can-do attitude you will always be successful. Imagine how you feel after a race when you expect to have fun and do your best but you have a tough time. You'll still be happy and content because you are doing something you love and time and placing doesn't matter. The same applies if you wake up feeling like it's going to be a chore to get through the hours of training today, you probably won't be successful. However if you wake up saying, today is going to be a great day because I'm doing something I love then it will be a great day no matter what happens with the training.

Keep smiling everyone and face every challenge with a smile and you'll always be successful, Thanks for the reminder Dr. Bob, R.I.P.

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