…In pursuit of lofty goals.

I had a conversation yesterday with a friend in which I expressed my feelings about a couple areas of my life where I feel my performance has been mediocre.

• The Marines
• Ironman triathlon

I’m reminded often of a concept I first became really connected to by way of The One Thing. The authors assert that you should chase big goals. The idea being that if you shoot for the stars and only make it to the moon you’ve done pretty well.

I was not a great Marine.

I knew great Marines. They were very impressive. Perfect fitness, expert marksmanship, squared away for life.

Knowing this fact, I spent a while not fully embracing my Marine Corps service.

In the last several years, however, I’ve come to recognize it for what it is. It is a time in my life where I shot for the stars, and only came up on the moon. Or, maybe a telecommunications satellite. Whatever. You get the point.

I was a functioning member of a group that by many standards is the best of the best. (SEALs, I don’t want to hear it – I know.)

I am not a great Ironman athlete.

Heck, I’m barely a good Ironman athlete. I’m only in the top 50th percentile in one of three disciplines, and that’s the one I’ve only been doing for 10 years or so.

But here’s the thing: a little more than 10 years ago I had a heart attack and bypass surgery.

Doing Ironman is my excuse to get up and train every day. Often really slow. Sometimes uncomfortable and under protest.

But I do it.

And again, I get to be part of a community doing what some call the hardest one-day athletic event. (Again, ultra-runners I don’t want to hear it.)

My point is this. We’ve all got something. And if you don’t, get after it. I’m proof positive that it’s never too late.

Fill your cookie jar, as Goggins calls it. Do things, no matter how small they seem, that when times are tough you can look back on and say “that was f-ing hard but I did it and I can do this.”