There is a wise saying in the world of investing that if you want to have success in the markets it is much better not trying to time them but instead you need be a steady long-term investor in the markets and over time the power of compounding will build your wealth.  The real meaning of this statement is there are no short cuts to creating wealth. If you think you are smarter than the markets, they usually have a way of humbling you very quickly. As I grow older, I use this adage in other aspects of my life. There are no short cuts to achieve your goals and being disciplined and focused are the way to success.

In March of 2022, I was riding my road bike on a gorgeous, sunny spring Friday afternoon when I was seriously injured by a Saratoga Sheriff car who failed to provide the right of way when he was turning left.  After a weekend in Albany Med and 4 months of recovering from broken bones and surgeries, I came to the firm conclusion that my days riding a road bike on the open roads were done. If this could happen with careless sheriff, what about all the other distracted drivers. Going forward, I was either going to be mountain biking or only riding on bike paths.

One life goal I had for many years was to complete a half iron man.  After the bike accident and with the addition of other old age wear and tear, it looked like it wasn’t going to happen.  Over the past couple years I have had several life experiences, including the very sudden loss of a younger colleague, that reminded me that life is short and while you have your health there is value to finding ways to get out of your comfort zone and grow. 

With this growth mindset, I attempted the Lake George Half Iron Man this fall. Throughout the race, my perspective was always about the time in the race and not the time of the race.  The race order is swim, bike and run and in each section, there are challenges but also positives that emerge and I felt a great sense of gratitude to experience both.  Taking the mindset that there are no short cuts to success I was able to push through and complete the race in 7:15 hours. Gratitude was the overwhelming feeling at the completion for all that I have in my life and the opportunities to push ourselves past our comfort levels and experience personal growth.