Even Lance Armstrong Had a Gut Check

GETTING HIMSELF MENTALLY READY FOR HIS COMEBACK IN THE TOUR DE FRANCE AFTER A 4 YEAR LAYOFF...

"When I started my comeback, in all the early races I was tentative, hesitant—that was the reason for the crash—broke my collarbone. I had thoughts of using this as a reason to quit, wondering, do I really want to do this? Word of this reached the Team director, he called and made one call, said, "ARE YOU NUTS, YOU ARE NOT QUITTING! YOU'VE COME TOO FAR!" After that call, that was it, I went all in—whatever it took." —Lance Armstrong

He had spent a year getting himself physically ready for the comeback, but the mental commitment was another thing entirely. Until he got that past the issue of whether or not he was ready to give it everything he had, he wouldn't be ready.

Now we know the result.

He finished an amazing third in the 21 day race against 200 of the top elite professional road racers in the world—almost all of them 5-12 years younger than he is.

You'll never put forth the effort required to be the best unless you commit totally. It's impossible to push yourself to the maximum effort required unless you want it bad enough to go all in. Even Lance. Even a 7 time Champion.