Small Business Today Magazine AUG 2014 SIVER STONE EVENTS | Page 25

EDITORIALFEATURE

The Price of Success                  
By three-time Olympian, Ruben Gonzalez

A

verage people expect their dreams and
goals to fall into their lap.  They are not
willing to inconvenience themselves for
their dreams.  They refuse to do anything outside their comfort zone to reach their
dreams. They don’t stand for anything; they don’t
commit to anything; and they just drift through
life.  That’s why they are average because they
are not willing to do what successful people are
willing to do.  Consequently, they don’t live life,
they merely exist.  They just take up space.

In order to succeed in life, you have to be willing to inconvenience yourself in a big way.  You
have to be willing to commit to yourself and
to your dream.  You have to be willing to face
your fears and do some things that are very uncomfortable.  You have to be willing to do the
things average people are not willing to do.  You
see, success is not about aptitude.  It’s about attitude.  It’s about having the attitude that you are
willing to do whatever it takes to get the job
done.

General William Westmoreland was once
reviewing a platoon of paratroopers in Vietnam.  As he went down the line, he asked each
of them a question: “How do you like jumping,
son?”  “Love it, sir!” was the first answer.  “How
do you like jumping?” he asked the next.  “The
greatest experience in my life, sir!” exclaimed
the paratrooper.  “How do you like jumping?” he
asked the third.  “I hate it, sir,” he replied.  “Then
why do you do it?” asked Westmoreland.  “Because I want to be around guys who love to
jump.”

Yeah! That guy had the right attitude!

One day, I was talking with Rudy Ruettiger,
the inspiration behind the movie, “Rudy,” and I
mentioned that I didn’t like the luge.  I told Rudy
that I competed in the luge because it was my
vehicle to the Olympics.  Rudy got a kick out of
that.Then, he told me; “I never liked football.  My

The price of success is big but
the price of regret that comes
from not pursuing your dream
is a hundred times bigger.
dream was to be part of the Notre Dame Tradition and I saw football as a way to do that!”

Sometimes you have to do things you don’t
like to do in order to get where you want to
go.  The paratrooper was willing to jump out
of airplanes so he could hang around people
who loved to jump.  I was willing to hurl myself down the ice in order to compete in the
Olympics.  Rudy was willing to get beat up in the
football field in order to get to be a part of the
Notre Dame tradition.

How about you?  Is there something that’s
been holding you back from your dream?  Is
there something that’s been keeping you from
taking action?  Don’t let anything keep you from
your dream.  I guarantee you that the feeling
you experience, once you realize your dreams
and aspirations, will make the price you paid feel
worthwhile.

The price of success is big but the price of regret that comes from not pursuing your dream
is a hundred times bigger.

Make a decision that you will do whatever
it takes to realize your goals and dreams and
make your life an adventure.

Ruben Gonzalez is an award-winning keynote speaker and
the author of the critically acclaimed book, “The Courage to
Succeed.”  His experiences as a three-time Olympian and as
the owner of two businesses give him a unique perspective on
how to conquer the corporate struggles of today.  For his free
10-Part Success eCourse, visit www.StartWinningMore.com
or contact him at 832-689-8282.
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