The Fortitude Chronicle: A Weekly Digest of Athletic Determination

Monday’s Mindset

Taking your life into your own hands is not easy. In fact, it's really hard. There are a million different things that pull us one way or another. Most of the time, these distractions are external—our longing to be liked by others, our desire to fit in, and our cravings for short-term pleasure over long-term goals. All of these things make achieving great things extremely difficult. The good news is, these are all controllable. The bad news is that few are willing to make the hard choices.

When you create the discipline in your life to make hard choices, remember, you've already put yourself in the top 10% by doing so. Even if things aren't going your way at the moment, stay confident; your time will come. If you're not making the hard choices, stop lying to yourself about why you're failing in life. Be introspective. Now, for those of us committed to optimizing for greatness, there are two concepts that will set you on the path toward actual growth.

First, aim to be the dumbest person in the room. This is something I frequently discuss because it's one of the most powerful lessons I have had the pleasure of adopting. I borrowed this idea from the great former Pittsburgh Pirates manager, Clint Hurdle. When you are consistently putting yourself in rooms with people smarter than you, the only thing that can happen is internal growth. This principle is directly related to improving your environment. Show me your environment, and I'll show you your future. Once you find yourself to be the smartest person in a room, find a new room. That's how you continuously grow. Our ego often wants us to be the smartest person, providing false gratification. Check your ego at the door. Not knowing is normal; a thirst for knowledge is a superpower. Elevate your life by putting yourself in rooms where you don't belong. Be tenacious in that pursuit. If you don't see a door, create one. There are always new rooms to enter. Choose the right ones.

Second, being older doesn't mean you're smarter; you may have just been dumber longer. Wisdom is not defined by the number of experiences you've had, but by the insights gained from those experiences. Something isn't learned until it's understood and applied to daily life. If I tell you something I don't actively live, that's not wisdom; it's regurgitated information. One thing I promise to all of you is I'll never write about something I don't actively live. The truly wise among us are those who realize they can learn from anyone at any time. I don't care if you're 14 or 104, age doesn't have a monopoly on wisdom. I’ve met 20-year-olds wiser than some 50-year-olds. As I mentioned earlier, learn to check your ego at the door. You'll be amazed at what you can learn. More importantly who you can learn from. It doesn’t matter if you're the star quarterback of the Pittsburgh Steelers or the janitor at a local high school, humble yourself to those around you. Anyone can read a number; few can be that number. Commit yourself to learning, then living, and watch as the law of attraction surround yourself with the truly wise.

In the end, life is punctuated by the choices we make and the company we keep. Wisdom is not just about age or experience, but about genuine understanding and application. Surrounding ourselves with those who challenge and uplift us propels us further than we might imagine. Are you willing to make the hard choices and surround yourself with people who will elevate your path?