To paraphrase Eric Thomas: Short term thinking says, “The donut tastes good. Eat it.” Short term thinking says,” One work out doesn’t matter. I can skip it.” Short term thinking encourages you to make decisions that hurt you in the long run and they don’t move you toward your overall strategic goals. The more you give in to short-term thinking that yields quick emotional satisfaction, the further from the path you will stray. Don’t do that. Think strategic. Think long-term. You need to get out of bed. You need to run. You need to read and study and practice and you need to do things that you don’t necessarily want to do.

So, last night I worked out and I walked after my girls went to bed. It’s 3 degrees F. That’s -16 C to the rest of the world. Yes, it was hot in the basement with the wood stove going. I was sweating and my skin was glistening in the soft downstairs family room / work out area lighting. My left wrist aching from tumbling down a hill with my littlest while taking her sledding this weekend. Every pound of load on the handles passed through my sore wrist reminding me I’m over 50. My eyes burned from the heat and dryness from the woodstove that was fighting to keep the house warm while my muscles hollered, “What the hell are you doing to me?” Yes, later as I walked my legs froze and my breath formed frost on my facial hair. I wear a mustache and beard and a little strip up my chin. It’s foolish and it’s vanity and it serves no purpose, but it’s perfect for ice to form and cling to me “with screaming agony”.

“Do you really need to walk tonight?” Asks my wife. “Yes” I reply, still wiping sweat from my brow. I made a commitment and I intend to follow through. It’s not pleasant. It’s not comfortable, but I thrive on this. Give me the unpleasant. Serve me discomfort. I will use this to feed my soul and use it as fuel to walk longer and faster. No one ever achieved greatness through comfort. Walking in cold weather doesn’t even come close to the hell some have been through. Compared to what others have endured it’s like crying about a paper cut. I’ll walk.

If I were in a race and I was going up against champions, do you think I would have to give 50%? Do you think 75% or 80% is going to win? If I’m not giving 100%, I’m not going to win.

You’ve got to finish what you start, and this race isn’t for a trophy or a medallion to hang on my wall. The trophy is my life, my freedom, my independence. I need to win this because the prize is ME. If I won’t try to win this race for me, so that I can be here for my kids, then what on earth could ever motivate me? What kind of man decides he’s not going to try to win before the race has even begun?

This is not about being greater than the next person. This is about me being greater than I was before. I believe that today is my greatest day, because this is the day I have lived the longest. Today I will be greater than yesterday because I’m not quitting, and I promise to push today a little harder than yesterday. My friends and family deserve better.

No. The cold won’t stop me. I’ll walk.