Today Team Perfect Chocolate Elite announced their 2014 squad of 2 Pros and 4 Amateur Elite athletes. I will be the Male Pro representing them next year! This is a huge honor and I am humbled by this opportunity to race with an incredible group of athletes and promote a quality, natural product.
Since I was made this amazing offer, a few days ago, I have been reflecting on my path to get here. One of the questions PFC asked in my profile questionnaire, and a couple things that have happened today have helped provide clarification to those thoughts. The first thing that happened today was one of my friends, a former swimmer I coached, posted an article - a letter to the editor on the USA Swimming website - from an existentially distraught swimmer. She was asking what the point of swimming countless laps and at the same time, what the point of anything was. The second thing that happened today was a couple of my friends joking that I was independently wealthy while we were out for wing night (a Tuesday tradition). And the question PFC asked was simple - 'what is the moment/accomplishment you are most proud of?'
I'll address these out of order...
No, I am not independently wealthy, at least not in the traditional sense. I don't have a boatload of cash. I spent most of my early and mid 20's working nights and weekends and saving most of what I earned. Didn't have a great social life, but my career coaching swimmers was highly rewarding. I saved most of what I earned and then I went back to grad school, blew through my savings, didn't use my degree and proceeded to start life and career anew at thirty. I went into debt. Friends and family questioned my decisions. I travelled to Hawaii for a race that cost me $1500 to participate in. I amassed significant debt. Friends and family really questioned my decisions. I started a business in 2011, that I paid tax on to "operate." This business earned its first dollar in 2013. I started coaching triathletes, swimmers, cyclists and runners...until six months ago my client list hovered at two while I managed other revenue streams. Long story short, I spent the past three years building revenue streams that work together. Do I make a lot of money? No. Can I make a lot? Don't know. I do know that I can make enough.
The biggest realization is that, YES, I am independently. I do what I want. I operate on my own schedule. I work 80-100 hours a week and to the outside world it seems as though I don't work at all. And you know what, I don't care. By most people's definition, I retired at 29. I love what I do. I can influence my athletes and others' in positive and meaningful ways to live happier and healthier lives. I meet interesting people. I get to travel all over the world. AND I can earn enough to live, and save. I would classify my level of happiness and satisfaction with life as highly wealthy.
Back to the swimmer, who was searching for meaning. Mike Gustafson had a great response, which you can read here, and with which I will not attempt to compete. It did get me thinking, or rethinking, because as Mike noted, almost all swimmers reach that point at some point during their careers. I remember being embarrassed to speak about how much I cared about swimming (to those outside my own family). Since then, I've had conversations that have forced me to question my path, the peril of being one-dimensional, and the worth of what I am doing. Yes, I risk becoming one-dimensional. It is not a risk that worries me. The stars seem one dimensional from Earth, yet the North Star shines brightest; it is still possible to differentiate. I also find that the more I enjoy what I do, the more I work. I work at 6am. I work at midnight. And I work most of the time in between. I'm not bragging. Most of the work I do, other people consider their hobbies. I get paid now, and can legitimately call it work, but I did this when I didn't get paid. Which brings me to my second point. I find my meaning in my own enjoyment, my happiness. This may sound selfish but what happens, for me, is that when I enjoy what I am doing it is no longer work and I don't mind (and frankly, enjoy) spending 100 hours a week at those tasks. I spend more time speaking to people about the charities I'm involved with. I spend more time writing about those charities and planning their events. I spend more time talking to athletes, speaking with them about their goals and helping them devise plans to most efficiently use their time to achieve those goals. To the point where almost all of my "me" time is also about somebody else - and you know what, that makes me enjoy my situation even more!
So, back to the profile question. My proudest moment? Easy. Hands down, my decision to walk away from teaching. I had blown through my savings. I was in debt. I had spent 2.5 years of my life in the Education program, had graduated with a 4.0 and was certified to teach in both English and History at the High School level. The easy choice, the safe choice was to get a job and start paying back my loans. My proudest accomplishment? Sticking to that decision despite what others encouraged, and coming through with a viable career and life I am beyond happy with. Don't get me wrong, I had tremendous support, from a good number of people, but it was a struggle for a long time. And I am forever grateful to everyone who encouraged me and supported me every step of the way!
