Y Talk: Run Your Race with a Commitment to Excellence by Justin Rose

Recently I read a book by Joel Osteen. The title of the book is, “You Can, You Will: 8 Undeniable Qualities of a Winner.” I would be the first to admit that I am not an ardent church goer so I was a little apprehensive about the book recommendation in the first place. However, I will say I have caught myself being sucked into Joel’s Sunday morning sermons on more than one occasion. As I began to read the book many of the qualities that Joel was writing about were relatable and really hit home. Specifically there were two qualities that Joel discussed in his book that I think everyone should use as a lens to examine their life.

Running Your Race

The second of Joel’s 8 undeniable qualities of a winner is the ability and mindset to run your own race. What Joel is talking about here is the ability to hold yourself accountable to your own standards and not allow others to influence your behavior. Joel shared a story in the book in which he writes about a man who at 20 years old says he worried about what others thought about him. At 40 years old he did not care what other thought of him. Finally, at 60 he realized they haven’t been thinking about him at all. This story is a great illustration of how we can obsess over what we think others are thinking about us. This type of thinking can easily consume your life and change your behavior to suit others and not always what is best for us.

I find this to be especially true here at the Y. Often members may join because they believe others are judging them for being overweight or out of shape only to cancel their memberships after a few short weeks or months. However, had they joined because they wanted to change their lives for the better and improve their health, they probably would have had a much better outcome.

Committing to Excellence

The fifth of Joel’s 8 undeniable qualities of a winner is committing your life to excellence. What Joel is writing about here is the ability to hold one’s self to a higher standard. In the book Joel agrees that we may not always be able to control our circumstances, but we can always control our reactions to these circumstances. If we apply ourselves to every situation with a commitment to excellence, it will be noticed and we will be rewarded. Our ability to go the extra mile when only a half mile is needed is what makes the difference. Using our commitment to excellence in all areas of our life from taking out the trash to our performance at work is what will take one to the next level.

I see this play out time and again when someone joins the Y. They make a commitment to work out three times a week for 50 minutes each. They come in and go hard and use maximum effort. However, they leave the Y and on the way home they stop at McDonald’s for dinner.

As we enter this New Year a challenge to each of is to commit ourselves to excellence as we run our own race. With these qualities in mind we can do more and be better than ever as we take on the challenge of life.

-by Justin Rose, Associate Executive Director​