Where did this saying originate?

This summer I really started to kick off this campaign and slogan. A few instances rubbed me the wrong way. One example was when I ran into someone who was bad mouthing a professional athlete. They do not have any right to bad mouth them when they do not know what it takes mentally and physically to do what they do. I decided it was time to publically elevate the athlete.

What does that mean to you?

There is no competition without the athlete. No opportunity to surpass obstacles in a controlled environment. We are not able to see the physical body perform at the top end of its capabilities under great stress.

In result oriented settings, wins vs losses take precedence, the athlete/individual is the most important variable. If you neglect to build up an athlete and provide them the tools they need to perform successfully, no one will win.

Who is your favorite athlete of all time? Why?

I’m from the MJ era. No explanation needed. GOAT.

What do you think makes a great athlete?

There are many good athletes that this doesn’t apply to. To truly be great within and outside of athletics, you must have an obsession with either a desired outcome or the process in attaining that outcome.

This is the quote I come back to and try to live by everyday. This is why I elevate the athlete, or anyone in the arena that is willing to put forth the effort and make necessary sacrifices to achieve their goals.

“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.” – Theodore Roosevelt

This verse is my all-time favorite. It helps keep my focused and faithful day in and day out. It is a reminder that I am not here to just exist and take up space, but I am here to do great, meaningful work. It takes dedication, discipline and self-control at the very least to be great! Each day is a practice and an opportunity to do better.

2 Timothy 1:7

For The Lord did not give us a spirit of timidity (of cowardice, of craven and cringing and fawning fear), but [he has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of calm and well balanced mind and discipline and self control.