Quick, name the athlete who won gold medals in swimming, fencing, gymnastics, and basketball – in the same Olympics. Stumped? That’s because no one has done it, and no one ever will.
To be the best, you must have singular focus and dedication. Think Michael Phelps here – most gold medals ever won by a single Olympic athlete – and all were in one thing, swimming. And just like Phelps, you’ve got to go to the extreme. You’ve got to be TOO strong, TOO fast, TOO resilient, and most of all TOO focused. How will you accomplish that for multiple goals? Well, cloning is an option. But if you’re holding out for that, you need more help than I can give!
You know the saying, “Jack-of-all-trades, master of none,” right? You may think having varied skills and projects is a good thing, but in business, it’s a prescription for disaster. This ain’t no variety show, this is your brilliant idea, your innovative design, your ticket to entrepreneurial greatness. Are you willing to risk it all just to have your fingers in every pot?
Look, maybe you are a modern-day Renaissance man or woman. Maybe you really can do it all better and faster than your colleagues. But can you honestly say that you can be the BEST in your industry? Because those schmucks across the conference table don’t matter, it’s the rock stars of business you have to beat.
If you’re going to take your career or your business to the next level, you must make a choice. What skill, goal, or idea is worth your total devotion? More importantly, what can you take to the extreme? Become a master of one thing and then kick it up a notch – or better yet, ten. Be TOO fast, or TOO slow, or TOO hard, or TOO simple, or TOO little, or TOO much.
The best, most hard-core examples in any industry are impossible to beat. They are masters; they own their field. Olympic athletes have it figured out. Dedicate yourself to one sport, push hard and be the extreme, the highest version of yourself. Be TOO much for the competition.
Become a TOO master and you just might take home the gold, or better yet, a pot of gold.
