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First Comes Sacrifice

Life coaches, franchise sellers and business advisors seldom use the word “sacrifice” when they are encouraging people to start a business, buy a business or grow a business.  In fact, sacrifice is not a word used much anymore.  It has an underlying connotation of pain, difficulty or loss.  The root words means to give up something valuable… for a greater purpose.  But most people just focus on the “giving up” part. 

It is, therefore, no surprise that sacrifice isn’t a word anyone relishes.  No one wants to give up their time, energy, money or freedom, even if it is for some possible reward down the road.  When things are difficult or challenging or when the going gets tough, no one thinks “yay, I’ll get my reward later.”  Eighty-hour work weeks.  Sleepless nights.  Year-round burning the candle at both ends.  Exhaustion.  Hard decisions.  No one looks forward to any of this.  But that is the cold, hard foundation that underlies most success stories, happy endings and rags-to-riches tales. 

To Achieve Great Things Requires Sacrifice

Consider the life of a professional ballerina. At first glance, one cannot help but marvel at the grace and beauty of a prima ballerina.  It is body-in-motion perfected.  At the ballet, what we see is equal parts artistry and athleticism.  Like a dove, a ballerina is the epitome of grace soaring to new heights.  What we see is the surface… but we don’t really know what it took for a ballerina to get there.

We don’t think about the sacrifice—how much a ballerina must endure and give up to achieve that level of success.  Grueling hours dancing on points.  Feet full of blisters and callouses.  Inevitable bruises and breaks.  Years of relentless dieting.  Decades of constant practice to the exclusion of other pastimes and pleasures. It is a career that reeks of sacrifice.  Many people see the final result and think, “A ballerina is so beautiful and talented… so lucky.”  But there is generally little or no luck in the equation. Some may have had advantages—a supportive family, the right connection, financial backing—but most ballerinas have built their careers on a lifetime of blood, sweat, tears, determination and sacrifice. 

This is true of most successful and happy people.  A lot of sacrifice precedes most achievements.  Many careers that appear effortless and glamorous are actually the result of years, if not decades, of strenuous preparation and near constant sacrifice.

Take, for instance, the careers of the most accomplished professional athletes. Their athletic prowess and seemingly effortless performances makes what they do look easy.  But it isn’t.  Case in point.  Tiger Woods’ powerful swing – which can carry a golf ball across an entire hole to make a hole-in-one — seems effortless.  But it is the culmination of rigorous training regimens, strict diets, and tens of thousands of hours spent honing skills, dating all the way back to his childhood. 

Woods took an interest in golf at 6 months old, watching as his father hit golf balls into a net and imitating his swing.  By age two, he appeared on The Mike Douglas Show putting with actor and comedian Bob Hope. At age 3, Tiger Woods shot a 48 for nine holes.  And, he was featured in Golf Digest at the age 5 – a career achievement at a time when most children are just starting Kindergarten.  In his lifetime, Woods has practiced golf over 78,000 hours, averaging 7 hours a day, 5 days a week for 43 years.  That is sacrifice.

Similarly, musicians and entertainers often spend years toiling away in obscurity, taking on minor roles or performing in small venues, before achieving widespread recognition. The greater the sacrifice, the greater the reward. This certainly holds true in many careers. Entrepreneurs, for example, often sacrifice financial security, work-life balance, and personal relationships to build their businesses. Scientists spend years conducting research, facing setbacks and failures, before making a breakthrough discovery. The sacrifices they make pave the way for their eventual success.

However, rarely does anyone talk about sacrifice when encouraging someone to pursue a dream.  Sacrifice is not glamorous.   Insomnia.  Stress.  Struggle.  Time spent away from loved ones.  Endless days.  Pressures.  Demands.  Uncertainty. 
Those who press on do so because they believe in what they are doing.  They are committed to the vision.  Then, one day — after many years of sacrifice — they realize that “Everything is exactly the way it needs to be”. All the pain and struggle was the price paid for a dream realized. 

The Indispensable and Character-Building Role of Sacrifice

Sacrifice is not glamorous. But it’s the thread that is woven through the fabric of every worthwhile dream.  Sacrifice is surely a big part of every major achievement.  While sacrifice might seem counterintuitive to happiness, the road to success and happiness is paved with sacrifice.  It is precisely by forfeiting today’s small amusements and enjoyment that one is able to unlock bigger and deeper levels of achievement and fulfillment.  Prioritizing long-term goals over short-term pleasures allows one to invest in one’s future self.  This investment, while often demanding and tiring, yields extraordinary dividends.

Sacrifice not only propels one toward goals but also cultivates essential qualities that contribute to overall growth and well-being. It fosters discipline, perseverance, and resilience. By consistently making choices that align with long-term vision, one can develop the self-control necessary to overcome obstacles and stay focused on the objective at hand day after day. 

Moreover, sacrifice can enhance a sense of purpose and gratitude. In recognizing the effort and dedication required to achieve dreams, one is able to appreciate the fruits of labor even more.  An achievement is even more valuable when the sacrifice is great.  So sacrifice can lead to a greater sense of happiness, success and fulfillment in life. 

Building Up a Tolerance for Sacrifice

Indeed, sacrifice isn’t glamorous and is a concept that is not easy to sell.  But building the ability to sacrifice for future gains is a skill that can be cultivated over time. There are strategies to help develop this invaluable trait.

1. Set Clear Goals – Define your “Why.” Articulate the reasons behind the sacrifice being made. Understanding the long-term benefits will fuel motivation to continue to keep practicing, studying, learning or working.  Then break down those goals further.  Divide larger goals into smaller, manageable steps. This makes the journey less daunting and helps with focus.

2. Practice Delayed Gratification – Start with small acts of self-discipline, like resisting immediate rewards such as skipping a snack or delaying a purchase or taking a break at the end of a long day.  Then, make sure any rewards are done strategically.  Celebrate milestones, but ensure rewards align with long-term goals.

3. Cultivate a Growth Mindset – View obstacles as opportunities for growth, not roadblocks.  And use setbacks as learning experiences for future improvement.  Failures become learning opportunities.

4. Visualize Success – Create a Vision Board. Visualize the desired outcome.  This can strengthen the commitment to sacrifice.  Also, repeat positive statements about the goal to reinforce commitment.

5. Build a Support System – Share goals with trusted friends or family who can reinforce accountability.  And join communities with like-minded people who can offer support and inspiration.

6. Prioritize and Manage Time – Track how time is spent to identify areas for improvement.  Practice makes perfect, but better, more efficient practice makes perfect sooner.  Also, allocate specific time blocks for leisure and relaxation and stick to that even when there is a deep desire for more.

7. Mindfulness and Self-Care – Practice techniques like meditation or yoga to reduce stress and stay focused for longer periods of time.  Also, make sure physical and mental health is prioritized as those are essential to sacrifice.

Remember, sacrifice is not about deprivation but about making conscious choices that align with big goals. By regularly practicing these strategies, the ability to sacrifice today for a brighter future will grow.

Sacrifice serves as a reminder that action — born from intention — can be transformative.  In a world that often prioritizes instant gratification and easy solutions, choosing the hard path may seem contradictory. But it is precisely this willingness to embrace challenges and endure hardship that puts one on the path to success and happiness.

Quote of the Week

“Great achievement is born of great sacrifice.” Napoleon Hill

© 2024, Keren Peters-Atkinson. All rights reserved.