Right now here in Santiago the South American championships are going on. Much like the Olympic games but only for the South American region. Unfortunately my schedule hasn't permitted me to go attend any events thus far, but I am watching it online as much as possible because the fact of the matter is, the majority of those athletes are at the top of the world in their respective disciplines and it is fun to watch them prove it. I publicly want to congratulate them on the effort and sacrifices that many of them have made to not only just make it to the games, but also for winning.

My theme for this past while has been the fact that "Nothing is the product of doing nothing." The sad thing I see day after day is the unfortunate reality that the majority of people are falling into the trap they can receive something for doing nothing. The most unfortunate part is that when people receive something without working for it, they are essentially receiving the fruits of someone else's labors. Sad, isn't it? You think about it from that perspective and you realize that all of the sudden if you don't work for your gains or you get paid without working, you are literally stealing a portion of the earnings of some other hard working individual. As an economic professor once told a class I was in, "There is no such thing as a free lunch." One way or another, somehow, some way... Everything is bought and paid for. Even in the case of your workouts and training, only your work can make you stronger.

Watching these athletes in the Olympics and other world class championships often brings a sense of inspiration. This inspiration is unique in the fact that when you observe what these people do, there is a realization, sometimes more potent for some than others, that those athletes are human, you are human, and the only thing separating you from them is time and discipline to develop the same strength that they have. Anyone is capable of gaining massive amounts of strength. anatomically the wonderful thing about humans is that your muscles and my muscles are essentially the same molecular construction generating fibers that we call muscle. Maybe I have a different proportion of fast twitch to slow twitch than you... but with the proper training genetic makeup can be modified. There are too many exceptions to the "rules" to bury all the possibilities that you can mold your body and develop the skills necessary to perform the athletic discipline you want. Too many people make the excuses to not try, "My genes aren't apt for it," "I can never run that fast," "That's something God given." The truth behind all the best athletes and champions in history isn't what we see them do the day of their final attempt or the gold medal match. No, it's what they do behind the scenes when no one is watching. They trained until they ran faster, they worked until they were stronger, they practiced until they could make that play... They made an investment of time and effort that was greater than everyone else to become the best.

If you put in the time, made the sacrifices, and worked that much harder, what do you think might happen?

Every Day... A Little Stronger