Disney Employee Engagement Speaker
Five daily blogs about life's 5 big choices on five different sites.
Because we see it every time we visit Lane 8, we don’t see it any more.
The tag line.
Huh?
The tag line beneath the title, Lane 8, at the very top (header) of this page”
“If your goal isn’t impossible, you’re not reaching high enough.”
As soon as I start taking the most important things for granted, I lose. Are ya with me?
“You can observe a lot by watching.” – Yogi Berra
What did you learn from watching Germany’s Guido Mueller, age 70, break that world record?
I learned age is a state of mind. And the longer you wait to believe this, the harder it must be to do something about it.
I also learned it’s better late than never – otherwise, my wife and I wouldn’t be parents.
What are you waiting for? For the people around you, will you be an example, or a warning? Carpe diem.
What is Lane 8?
Lane 8 is the worst lane in Track & Field. Fast runners are put in the middle lanes and slower runners are assigned the outer lanes. The slowest competitor is always assigned Lane 8.
And in the 400 meters, which I compete in, you stay in your lane the entire race. The way the starting lines are staggered, makes it look like Lane 8 is way out in front, when in fact, it’s the exact same distance as the others.
So many consider lane 8 the worst lane because you cannot see any of the other competitors, until they pass you.
My goal is to be in Lane 8, the worst lane. And I also don’t care if I come in last. Seriously.
Our son (9) says, “Dad, you want the worst lane and you don’t care if you come in last?”
(Pause for effect, and read each of the next three sentences with decent pauses in between)
“That’s right, son, Lane 8. In the finals. At the World Championships.”
I continued the answer for our son, “You can come in last and still be the eighth best in the entire world.”
I then shared the moral of the story with our son:
“You can go through life and set the bar low, reach it, but then live with the regret of wondering what you could have done if you tried harder. Or, you can set the bar ridiculously high, fail, and yet live with peace because you know in your heart you did your very best.”
Ya with me?
Three more questions:
If this is you, then you have sisu (pronounced “C-sue”). It’s Suomi (Finnish) for guts, determination and not quitting.
While in Lahti, Finland, representing the United States at this year’s WMA Masters Track and Field World Championships, I met a Finnish couple and overheard them say, “She’s got sisu (C-sue)!”
They were talking about one of the women who was competing in the W80-84 1,500 meters. Can you comprehend that? Early 80’s, running in the Masters World Championships?
I agree, she had sisu.
Makes me wonder what I’ll have when I get older.
Why do you exercise?
Why don’t you exercise?
Why do you eat such a healthy diet?
Why do you eat such junk food?
How long will you be able to maintain this routine?
When are you going to start?
What motivates you?
What are you afraid of?
Why? When? Where? Who? How?
If you can’t answer these for yourself, then who else do you think is going to answer them? No one?
No one! (exclamation mark)
One last question.
“Doesn’t this scare the heck out of you?”