Finish Strong

Finish Strong dan skognes motivation blogger speaker teacher trainer coach educator1

I love sports. For many years I played just about everything you can imagine. I loved to compete both on teams and in individual events. For me, there was always something about leaving it all on the court or field and doing the best I could. Sometimes I won, and sometimes I lost, but how I finished was what really mattered.

Now I am in the 4th quarter of my life. It does not matter what mistakes or setbacks I have encountered to this point. What matters most now is what do I do with the time I have left on this earth?

Regardless of what quarter you are in, let me encourage you on a few points:

Whether you are in business, sports, you are a home maker, or even if you are retired, the game is not over. As long as you have breath, there is something positive to contribute to your family, your community, your country, and even the world. Try to do something every day that has a positive impact on others. Whether you teach, sell, manage, own, write, collect garbage, deliver, or whatever you do…do it to the best of your ability. Take pride in what you do and be the best at it every day. Trust me when I tell you that people are watching you and how you respond to the stresses of life. You are writing your epitaph with your actions more than your words.

Perhaps you are discouraged with the setbacks you have faced. It might be a failed business, relationships which have gone south, or even health issues which have you sidelined from what you really want to do. Quit asking, “Why me?”  Change your question to, “What now?” Just because you took a detour, don’t let that keep you from reaching your goals. The blessings are in the journey, not the destination. Don’t miss the blessings because of setbacks. Life is always full of setbacks. The things that set you back can be the very things that set you up for your God-given destiny. So, quit grumbling and start looking for the opportunity that is there before you and go for it.

Time and time again I have seen incredible comebacks in the world of sports. Just when you think your team is down, they somehow find the way to come back and win…against all odds. I love that about sports, but I also see the correlation to enduring to the end in life. We can win in life even when the odds are totally stacked against us. We have to learn the power of focus, have faith in ourselves (even if others have lost their faith in us), and then persevere through the storms we face. Find a way to ride out the storm. Set your sails with the wind and keep your eyes on the destination. Even if you feel your boat has sunk and all is lost, hold on to your life preserver and keep swimming. It isn’t over till it’s over. As long as you have breath…there is hope. Never lose sight of that.

Avoid the temptation to have a pity party. Everyone has issues to deal with. Learn the power of helping others with their struggles even when you think your world is spinning out of control. There is something magical about encouraging others in their storm that actually helps calm you in yours. Try it and you will see that what I am suggesting is not crazy….but therapeutic. It works!

I pray that as you read this that you are energized and regardless of what you have faced thus far and what quarter of life you are in that you finish strong.

Shalom!

Dan Skognes

4 Responses to “Finish Strong”

  1. Excellent motivational and very encouraging post, Dan. This is exactly what I needed this morning. What better way to start the day …….. it is 3.20am here.

    Oh, I believe in the saying by Benjamin Franklin ‘Early to bed early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise’.

    • Dan Skognes says:

      Wow, Luqman, you ARE an early riser. I went through a period where I got up every day at 3 AM. Just could not sleep, so I got up and wrote. It was both exhilarating and exhausting. LOL

  2. Almas Taufiq says:

    Amen and thanks. Strange that I read this as I suffered a deeply painful setback. Yes, your words did console and show me the way out of my “pity party”. Thanks again.