Caleb:
As I've observed life, I've noticed that there is a lot to learn from the life stories of other people. There are good and bad things to learn. Here is such a story...
In the 1990's and 2000's cycling was dominated by the US Postal team. In 1998 they signed Lance Armstrong and gave him a contract that included big incentives for winning the Tour. He then became sponsored by Nike and other merchants with similar provisions that compensated him for winning. And win he did, Lance won 7 consecutive tours from 1999-2005. During that time, Lance became one of the highest paid athletes in the world.
Teams are sponsored by large organizations, many have been sponsors for years. Before US Postal, teams would enjoy the tour and sponsors would deal with the financial costs. As they went from city to city throughout France, the cyclists would get done with their day of biking and relax. Cycling was not a sport where the athlete could hope to get rich. That changed with Lance. As he won, US Postal, Nike, and other saw benefits of the sponsorship. The sponsors were extremely popular and greatly benefited from the sponsorship, perhaps as much as any other sponsors had done before or since.
Lance was nobody's fool. He knew that the only way to enrich himself was to win the tour. So, Lance began to make incremental changes. For instance, he quit racing in the other races leading up to the Tour de France. Other race officials were frustrated and former tour champions complained, but Lance held firm. He entered the tour every year, rested and relaxed. Lance Armstrong was laser focused on winning the tour. Nothing was going to stand in his way. He was serious about it and made sure that everyone on his team did their part. The result was a seven year period where US Postal was the dominant team in the sport.
Winning at all costs came with a dark side, US Postal also perfected the art of doping (giving the cyclists blood transfusions and EPO). Sadly for him, his attitude cost him his wife and family and ultimately, former teammates turned on him and ratted him out to the anti-doping agencies. He now lives an angry and bitter life. In 2012, Lance was found guilty of doping, stripped of all his former titles and banned from cycling for life. Former sponsors are now suing him for sponsorship money they paid to support him during those years. This is a sad conclusion to what could've been one of the greatest sports story of a generation.
There are many things about Lance that I respect and admire. I admire his tenacity. I admire his organization. I admire his dedication. It's hard for me to be too hard on him for doping. The reality is that many teams were systematically doping at the time.
There are things about Lance that infuriate anyone who wants to like him. The dude is a self-absorbed imbecile. He ruined his life by setting aside important things for less important things. Likely, he never valued his wife as he should've done, but the point is he lost her. He is super bitter. I can't even stand to listen to him.
Why do I share this? I think it's interesting to look at others and evaluate their situation and then to consider how it could apply to your own life. Maybe you find it interesting and useful and maybe not. There is a lot to learn about focus, dedication, and tenacity as you pursue a goal. There is also a lot to learn about being balanced in life. Fun stuff to think about.
Love you,
Dad
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