It is unreasonable to think we can earn rewards without being willing to pay their true price.” — Epictetus, ancient Greek philosopher

Not long ago I had the opportunity to have a conversation with a successful businessman and investor whose experience spans some 60 years of professional work.  

"What is the most important question that a young person should grapple with as they begin their own journey?” I asked.  

He paused for a moment and quietly responded, “Have you paid a price or sacrificed for something worthy?”

His question was profound, as it gets to the heart of how to measure success. Do we mark success in outcomes such as trophies, victories or other form of prize? Perhaps there is another standard by which achievement is better assessed: the integrity of the journey undertaken with all its twists and turns, a trail marked by challenge, service, sacrifice and worthy endeavor. 

Prizes fade, and we do not find the core of our identity in the championship but rather in becoming a champion — a champion measured by virtue rather than vanity. Champions are cut from a variety of cloth. Whether an Olympic champion or a champion of a community, family or business, the path taken is never one of ease. The trials, setbacks, obstacles and stumbles along the path can either become excuses that spread like noxious weeds or the nutrient source for learning, growth and advancement. Champions embrace the grind regardless of their field of endeavor.

Sacrifice is noble in that self-interest must be suspended in exchange for a greater cause. To freely and intentionally pay a price is a prerequisite for pursuing purpose, discovering joy, and reaching a standard of excellence measured not in prizes but in moments of meaning.  

John Maxwell writes, quoting Ralph Waldo Emerson, “Dreams are free, but the journey isn’t. First, you must pay the price of dealing with criticism from people who matter. Whatever course you decide upon, there is always someone to tell you that you are wrong. Second, you must pay the price of overcoming your fears. Finally, you must be willing to pay the price of hard work in order to realize your dream.”

Effort and sacrifice

Be it the words of ancient Greeks or modern thought leaders, the message is clear: aim high, but be prepared to pay the price, to do the hard work, to be relentless in focus as you strive towards the vision. Life is precious, but it is not fair nor easy — never was and never will be. The gift of talent can only be transformed into strength by virtue of resolute practice, intentional effort and disciplined sacrifice. A pain-free path to a fulfilling life is not possible, nor can anything of value be built, without action accompanied by the extraction of a cost. Ownership, authorship and self-respect come from sacrifice and must be earned with old-fashioned blood, sweat and tears.

In a study conducted by the London School of Economics and The University of Chicago, it was determined people are twice as likely to achieve their goals when they are regularly reminded of the sacrifices they’ve made in the past. Persistence and motivation are heightened by focusing on those times when we chose sacrifice instead of yielding to temptation. Much like the process of gaining physical strength through weight and endurance training, we can enhance our impact by zeroing in on the price paid in pursuit of a worthy goal. 

Perhaps it is time to turn our attention away from the prize and to embrace the stories of sacrifice. In this manner we find that the victory lies not in the trophy, but in the transformation created through struggle.