My team received this email 10 days ago. It really, really bothered us. We work just as hard as everyone else. This email basically trashed us for doing so. My Mom was right: "Stephen, in life, you'll get more with honey than you do with vinegar."
As most of you know, I’ll post videos from time to time on any given topic whether it's races, motivation, or my own screw ups (see blown out swimsuit video). I never expect any of them to 'go viral,' I just do it because I think I should, that's it. What I don't expect is for people to reach out to me personally from around the world and comment. Some that I know, and others that I don't. When you think about it it's kind of exciting and at the same time scary.
Last week, I posted the "Vinegar/Honey" video regarding an email that was sent to us about an athlete not getting into the Hand & Stone Women's Philadelphia Triathlon presented by Inspira Health on July 7, 2019. The event sold out in a matter of 36 days which means this athlete had 864 hours or 51,840 minutes or 3,110,400 seconds to register. That's a solid amount of time to create a plan, prepare to save, and execute hitting the submit button. To be truthful, the email stung my crew and we're a pretty tough bunch. But nothing can compare to the comments of the athletes when they found out what goes down on a daily basis here at DelMo World HQ.
Here are my Top 10 Comments:
10. "Is she kidding?" by John Ryan
9. #standwithdelmo by Matt Cook
8. "This is awesome. It's a shame teachers can't do this." Mike Tzorfas
7. "Sometimes people forget they choices...in life." Wendy Gorman
6. "More importantly, congrats to whichever of your kids made the "Cavity Free Club!" Michael Siciliano (you've got to watch the video to understand that)
5. "Someone's lack of planning should not be your emergency." Leigh Drachman Feutz
4. "I feel sad for her." Lou Fasano
3. "Your mother was right about everything." Rhonda Cohen
2. "When are you coming to the south?" S Nikki Berger
1. "Let it go, dude." Michele McCandless
Michelle (and my mother) are right. I've said my piece on this topic. It's time to let it go.
But it's also time to recognize that WE are entitled to NOTHING in this world. WE get what WE work for...in triathlon, love, and life. If you want more, do more and become more. If you want a bountiful harvest in the fall, you've got to plant in the spring. There is no magic pill, no mystery benefactor, no hack to PLANNING, PREPARATION, and EXECUTION.
I'm eternally grateful to be surrounded with so many positive, hardworking people in and around endurance sports. In some ways, you all have saved my life and I think we save each other's when we come together at events to be the best versions of ourselves we can possibly be. THAT IS WHY WE DO WHAT WE DO.
For now, I wish to meet up with our disgruntled athlete one day. I'd like to know what is causing her pain. I'd like to share with her that this is the perfect opportunity to be a part of this event as a volunteer so you cannot only help yourself heal, but help hundreds of other like-minded, amazing athletes along their journey.
Together, let's plant the seeds of greatness this spring. Let's take the time to HELP those who may be having a hard time and get them to see the light. That's all I've got this month folks - no tricks, no quips, nothing special, just a message from the soul.
Now, get your *ss off the couch and do the work. Love, DelMo
