speaker and author. I was not willing to spend the time to hone my skills as a bobsled driver; choosing instead to invest that time learning and developing my skills as an entrepreneur. I was willing to pay the priceAs I sit to write this we are literally only days away from the 20th Winter Olympic Games in Torino, Italy. At a recent speaking engagement someone asked me if I would be competing and I pointed out that I had retired from the sport due to a knee injury I had sustained years ago.

As I later contemplated my answer I realize that that was only part of the truth. In Nagano, Japan I hobbled around on a knee swollen one and half times its size and thought nothing of it. Having competed in three Winter Olympic Games, I knew only too well the enormous price exacted in order to compete at that level, and this time I was simply unwilling to pay it. I was not willing to pay the price of being on the bobsled circuit for months at a time and missing my children growing up. I was not willing to pay the price of not pursuing my new love - a career as a motivational speaker and author. I was not willing to spend the time to hone my skills as a bobsled driver; choosing instead to invest that time learning and developing my skills as an entrepreneur. I was willing to pay the price,

from the sport due to a knee injury I had sustained years ago.

As I later contemplated my answer I realize that that was only part of the truth. In Nagano, Japan I hobbled around on a knee swollen one and half times its size and thought nothing of it. Having competed in three Winter Olympic Games, I knew only too well the enormous price exacted in order to compete at that level, and this time I was simply unwilling to pay it. I was not willing to pay the price of being on the bobsled circuit for months at a time and missing my children growing up. I was not willing to pay the price of not pursuing my new love - a career as a motivational speaker and author. I was not willing to spend the time to hone my skills as a bobsled driver; choosing instead to invest that time learning and developing my skills as an entrepreneur. I was willing to pay the price

imes its size and thought nothing of it. Having competed in three Winter Olympic Games, I knew only too well the enormous price exacted in order to compete at that level, and this time I was simply unwilling to pay it. I was not willing to pay the price of being on the bobsled circuit for months at a time and missing my children growing up. I was not willing to pay the price of not pursuing my new love - a career as a motivational speaker and author. I was not willing to spend the time to hone my skills as a bobsled driver; choosing instead to invest that time learning and developing my skills as an entrepreneur. I was willing to pay the price I was not willing to pay the price of being on the bobsled circuit for months at a time and missing my children growing up. I was not willing to pay the price of not pursuing my new love - a career as a motivational speaker and author. I was not willing to spend the time to hone my skills as a bobsled driver; choosing instead to invest that time learning and developing my skills as an entrepreneur. I was willing to pay the pricespeaker and author. I was not willing to spend the time to hone my skills as a bobsled driver; choosing instead to invest that time learning and developing my skills as an entrepreneur. I was willing to pay the price, but not to get back to the Olympics.

I am reminded of the story of the hostess at a cocktail party. She approached the world famous concert pianist who had just given a wonderful recital and declared that she would give anything to play like him. He looked at her thoughtfully trying to find the kindest way to coach his response. “No you wouldn’t.” He finally said. An embarrassed smile creased her face as she exclaimed, “Yes, I really would!” “No Madame” he asserted, “you would love to play the way I play now, but I promise you, you would not be willing to practice 8 hours a day for the next 20 years to learn to play the way I do.” The silence in the room was deafening. Everyone present knew the pianist was right and that the hostess was only deluding herself.

There is no free lunch. Everything has a price and whether you are competing at the