I know you have heard some version of this before, but I want to give it a little more thought. We often hear this phrasing about purchasing something or earning success. To say that you have to spend money or put in the time and effort to be successful is true, but when I say everything, I mean everything.
Whether it’s pursuing our dreams, building relationships, making simple choices, or sitting on your butt doing nothing, there’s always a cost involved. Every decision, every action, every step forward requires something from us – our time, our energy, our focus, our peace of mind, our health, our relationships. Some costs are up front, immediate, and obvious, while others can be delayed and not so obvious.
But here are two issues I see all the time: first, we think that doing nothing costs us nothing, and second, we often underestimate the true cost of our choices. We’re quick to jump into things without fully considering what we’re giving up in return or we avoid doing things because we think we avoid the cost. So today, I want to challenge you to think carefully about what your choices really cost and what you’re willing and unwilling to pay for the life you’re living.
I love business ownership. It comes with certain freedoms and autonomy. I don’t answer to anybody (except the IRS). I’m my own boss. I can come to work when I want and leave when I want. I have the flexibility to help care for my kids if they are sick without using paid time off or going without pay. If I think my business should go in a certain direction, I can do that. These parts of business ownership also come with a cost.
Owning a business is expensive. You’ll pay for your investment. You’ll pay for your mistakes. Maybe you pay for coaching or mentorship to help avoid costly mistakes. You’ll pay for an education. You pay your overhead. You pay to find clients. You pay for your employees, etc. I’ve lost sleep wondering how I was going to make payroll when times were tough. You’ll pay with late nights and early mornings when other folks have clocked out from their jobs for the day. You get the idea. I’m willing to fight through these costs to earn the freedoms discussed earlier. It doesn’t make it right or wrong; it’s just the costs involved in the life I want to live.
Let’s talk health for a bit.
To be healthy costs you. It costs you the price of quality foods. It might cost you a gym or training membership. It might cost you the momentary joys of eating crappy food more frequently. It might cost you certain social situations that don’t align with a healthy lifestyle. It will cost you the time and effort of putting work in. Being healthy comes at certain costs.
To be unhealthy costs you. It costs a lot actually. Being unhealthy costs you years of your life. It costs you quality years of your life. It will likely cost you additional medical expenses for care and medications that healthier folks won’t pay. It might cost you confidence. It costs increased suffering with pain and injuries along with decreased healing times. This list can be quite extensive so I’ll spare you a bit. This comes back to the misconception that doing nothing doesn’t cost you anything. Everything costs you something.
Are you willing to sacrifice your comfort for the thrill of adventure? Are you willing to trade short-term pleasures for long-term success? Are you willing to invest in yourself even when it feels uncomfortable or uncertain?
Because here’s the truth: everything worth having comes at a cost AND the things not worth having come at a cost. But the beautiful thing is, you get to decide what you’re willing to pay. So choose wisely, my friends. Invest your time, your energy, and your resources in things that truly matter to you. And remember, the price of greatness is always worth paying.
So here’s to making intentional choices, to investing in ourselves, and to living a life that’s rich in meaning and fulfillment. You’ve got this! 
Hold the standard, friends,
Coach Derek
