COUNTING THE COST
Success can be a pleasant thing or it can be that thing that creates a lot of stress and anxiety to those to whom it may seem difficult in attaining. Whatever the situation, in the quest to be a success there is that one common thread that is kind of like the bonding agent used in the manufacture of glue. And that is in order to attain it, one has to realize that it will cost us something. After all, if success was easy, then there would be a lot more successful people in the world.
What is it then that drives us to try to satisfy this inner thirst to want to succeed? Rhetorical question of course because I don't think anyone truly knows the answer to that question. Suggestions have been proposed but all in all they are all just speculation. The driving force, if I may call it that, is different among individuals, since my motivational parameters may not necessarily be that of another person.
Now assuming that the drive or hunger for success is there, I want to focus on the cost of it. I have studied Economics at the High School level a long time go, and one of the terms that kind of stuck with me was the concept of "opportunity cost". Every time I choose to do something it means that there is always something that I could have done instead of what I am doing. Opportunity Cost is therefore that which I am giving up in order to do what I am currently doing. In other words, it may be referred to as the price we pay or the things we have to give up in order to accomplish our goals. When President Obama decided to go after the presidency, he had to give up his private law practice to achieve what he had set out to achieve, Therefore his private practice was the opportunity cost of becoming President of the US.
So here is the question, what are your goals and what are you willing to give up or sacrifice in order to attain it? How about giving up some sleep at nights? Or maybe cutting back on the girlfriend/boyfriend time to focus on your business? Maybe giving up some Television time? Maybe not watching so much of the Football game on Sundays? Maybe giving up some Golf time?? Whatever it is one thing is certain, you will have to give up some things if you are serious about achieving success. Famous Author Steven Covey said that successful people begin with the end in mind. God's word also asks the question, " which of you, intending to build a tower, first does not sit down, and count the cost....?"
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There's always a 'cost' to any choice we make in life and those costs can be in very different ways. In order to obtain success, it's not always a case of having to make 'sacrifices' - sometimes it may be a case of taking something up. After all the definition of 'success' is very individual.
Point taken. But the price you pay is still what you would be have been doing with your time if you hadn't taken up that "thing". In that sense it can be seen as a sacrifice. Maybe sacrifice was too harsh a word but I get your point. Thanks for your comment.