Dream Big

If you don’t know where you are going, you might end up some place else.   

 Yogi Berra

It’s finally here! After years of dreaming, planning, reflecting, designing, writing, and then doing it all over again, the Equine Career Coach website is finally a reality. In less than two weeks the vision that until now has only lived in my head will go live and in reflecting on this big achievement and in already thinking of ways to improve it,  I can’t help but think about what it means to try to do your best.

Doing your best doesn’t happen overnight. I bet if you were to interview every trainer, every jockey, every owner, and breeder at the Breeder’s Cup, not one of them would attribute their success to luck.  None of them would tell you they ended up at the top by accident. Instead they would each likely tell you stories of the ups and downs and risks taken along the way.  They would probably share stories of worry and fear, countless nights awake, and thankless hours invested to get them right where they are. So, what can we learn from the elite in any sport or the leaders of any industry?

Be the best right where you are.

You can’t spend a life being mediocre and somehow end up at the top. Make a decision today to be the best wherever you are. The best student, the best intern, the best employee, the best friend, the best you can at everything you do. As a student you are laying the foundation for your future. Commit today not just to give 100% to the things you enjoy but also to the menial tasks of day to day life. The best predictor of future performance is the past so what you do today will show your employers, your friends, your professors, your trainers and others what you are capable of tomorrow.

Invest in your goals.

An investment is not a’ here today gone tomorrow’ kind of a thing. Investments consist of small deposits over time that result in big payouts. You might spend six hours studying non-stop right before a big exam but it won’t compare to what you would have learned had you invested twenty minutes every day. Decide what you want in the future and invest small amounts of time towards that goal every day. You won’t reap the benefits right now, but when you do you will be so glad you did.

Try by investing 20 or 30 minute blocks of time at first. If it’s your career, read a magazine, journal article or blog by someone in your industry of interest every day. If it’s the people in your life, spend 20 uninterrupted minutes asking them how they are, thanking them for all that they do for you, and telling them how important they are to you. If it’s your health, commit to spending 30 minutes a day exercising to get in shape.  If it’s your education, invest small amounts of time keeping up on your courses every day. Whatever it is that matters to you, don’t overlook the opportunity to get the very most out of it by investing your most valuable resource – your time – right now. 

Choose your circle wisely.

Who you surround yourself with has a tremendous impact on your life. Chose to be around people who challenge you to be better, people who want the best for you, and people who are willing to say the things that no one else will say. The ones who are there when things get hard are rare, but they are also among God’s greatest blessings.

Whatever you do, don’t settle for average in any aspect of your life. Working for people at the top of their game can be difficult, often they demand perfection and their daily aspiration of excellence every day can be exhaustive. But it’s worth it. Work for people you want to learn from and you will walk away with more than you realize.  

In the days and weeks ahead, look around you. Find people who are not only doing what you want to do but also doing it well. Learn what makes them different and imitate it in your own life. Dream big, work towards your goals every day and surround yourself with people who want the best for you. One day soon it might just be you in the winner’s circle, crossing the finish line first, or the proud owner of a world class horse.