The Lever in Your Hands

"It takes hours and hours and hours to devote to be great at something.
You can't skip that step.
You have to do that."

Success isn’t something you schedule.

It shows up when you’ve put in the work, when you’ve earned it. pic.twitter.com/uTRQrVcJqy

— The Winning Difference (@thewinningdiff1) September 27, 2024

Adolescence has a lot of advantages. The lever you have to move the world is time.

The more you understand the world, the greater your opportunity to make a difference for the broad community, your family 'team', and yourself.

In "The Playbook" series, Patrick Mouratoglou, Serena Williams' coach describes coaching a young male tennis star into the Top Ten. The player then dropped him, saying that he didn't need him to go farther. The player's career fell apart. 

When you say, "I've made it," the gods laugh. Or they consign you to the fate of Tantalus or Prometheus or Sisyphus. Who are they? If you haven't heard of them, then you're in the sweet spot - high school. 

From Brave AI:

The Tantalus myth originates from ancient Greek legend, with accounts varying across different sources. Here’s a summary of the key elements:

• Tantalus’ Character: King Tantalus was known for his arrogance and selfishness. He believed himself to be the smartest person, even surpassing the gods. He cared little for his wife, son, or people, and thought them foolish.
• Crime and Punishment: Tantalus committed three egregious offenses:
  • He stole nectar and ambrosia, the food and drink of the gods, and brought them back to mortals.
  • He killed his own son, Pelops, and served him as a meal to the gods at a divine feast.
  • He committed other unspecified atrocities.
• Divine Retribution: The gods, outraged by Tantalus’ actions, punished him in various ways. According to Homer’s Odyssey (Book XI), Tantalus stood neck-deep in water that receded whenever he tried to drink it, and fruit hung above his head, which the wind blew away whenever he attempted to grasp it. This torment is the origin of the word “tantalize,” meaning to tease or torment someone with something just out of reach.
• Alternative Accounts: Pindar’s odes provide an alternative myth, where Tantalus’ punishment focuses on his theft of ambrosia and nectar. In this version, Tantalus is condemned to eternal hunger and thirst, with food and drink always eluding him.

The Tantalus myth serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of hubris and the consequences of defying the gods.