My friends at Wrestleology.com recently shared the above meme. It struck me as a reminder that most of us are unwilling to pay the price of hard work. Now, I can’t say that I want cauliflower ears (most wrestlers really don’t, I would believe), but I am envious of what they represent—years of hard work and dedication. Cauliflower ears come from putting the long hours in the wrestling room practicing and battling with one’s training partner. So, “Don’t worry. You never will.” suggests that one is not likely to have what it takes to get a wrestler’s ears.
A number of terms ago, I was asked by a student how to respond to a woman who says she “doesn’t want big muscles.” Ordinarily, I would respond with references to testosterone, genetics, etc., but this particular day caught me in a sarcastic mood, and I responded: “Tell her she isn’t willing to put in the work.” The more I considered my response, the more satisfied I was with its accuracy. Sure, genes and hormones play a part, but the reality is that people with big muscles have put in a lot of work to get them. If you don’t want big muscles, you don’t have to work very hard to not get them.
The reality is that any great success comes with scars, bruises, humility, and “cauliflower ears”. We all want to be successful, but very few are willing to put in the effort it takes to get there. So, when we look at “successful” people, do we see the road they have travelled or just the laurels of success? If we want success, we have to accept all that it requires—including cauliflower ears.
Be your best today; be better tomorrow!
Carpe momento!