Equipping young women professionals with young families to find fulfillment, contentment and joy as mothers and home makers without losing sight of who they are as women.

Volume 02, Issue 37: Pay the Price for the Prize

The last few weeks we have watched with amazement as world class athletes battle it out for the top prize. Celebrating the success of those who have won, some of us have wished we could do such exploits and win the acclamations of the world. What we may not have thoroughly considered is all that went on behind the scenes for these fine athletes to present such marvelous displays of polished talents and abilities.

As we observe the crowning of achievers across various fields, we admire their success and long to see ourselves receiving the tributes and being celebrated. What we hesitate to embrace is that they did not wake up one day and found success.

Today’s Olympics world champions have paid the price for the prize. Prior to arriving on stage, they have toiled day and night to perfect their abilities and position themselves for success.

Having realized that to be great, you have to move past the possible and start chasing the impossible, the London Olympians have worked hard, made incredible sacrifices, and practiced over and over again. These champions have earned their place among the greats.

What do you want to be great at? What are you passionate about? What is the thing that God has given you the ability to do well? Count the cost. Determine the price you are willing to pay for the prize. Then begin paying the price, and in the fullness of time you shall attain your dream.

It is not the will to win that matters. It is the will to prepare to win that matters. What price are you willing to pay for your dreams? Acknowledge that anything worth attaining takes hard work, and then name your price. Choose what you are willing to give up, to go up.

Achievers pay a price for the prize. They apply their learning and make the difficult changes. It’s easy to receive knowledge and continue doing business as usual. Applying our learning takes us out of our comfort zone. If you wish to not just applaud others but be applauded as well, declare it time for business unusual. Do whatever it takes to develop your skills and exploit your potential. Value excellence and observe the hard work involved.

Every achievement has a different price to pay. When you choose to go against the grain, you risk being misunderstood, ridiculed, and possibly rejected. Make up your mind from the onset that you will persist and outlast your opposition.

Not all the athletic world champions in London today are winning the gold medal, or even the bronze. But they are not giving up. In the face of adversity in the pursuit of your dreams, determine to live out the words of Maya Angelou who wrote that you may encounter many defeats but you must not be defeated.

As you devote yourself to make a difference, don’t underestimate the power of unwavering diligence in achieving your goals. Work hard at what you do and embrace the discipline to stay in the process of what you want to be great at.

Lillian Chebosi