Unless you live under a rock on the moon, you probably heard that the Olympics started yesterday. I've never been a huge sports fan, but there's always something alluring about the Olympics, so I always watch a bit of it when I need a break or have a few minutes to spare. Like a good lemming, I have bought the media hype surrounding the swimmer Michael Phelps and how he is poised to possibly beat Mark Spitz's 1972 record of 7 medals during one Olympics. I'm not here to predict the future, however, but as an American, I'm certainly rooting for Michael. I smiled and felt a surge of pride when tonight he won his first gold medal in his first event (the 400m IM).
I can't help but think about how my life, or any "average" life, compares with what 19-year-old Michael Phelps is experiencing, especially now having won his first gold. While 19 isn't that far back in my life, it's certainly more than just last year, and if taken at face value, it's easy to feel pretty small in comparison. I'm never going to win an Olympic medal or, unless everything goes really well in my career, be on the cover of dozens of magazines and be a national celebrity. Without meaning to be pessimistic or rude, I doubt any of my readers will either (though I wish each and every one of you the best of luck!).
Yet as I thought more about it, I realized that while it's all very impressive and admirable, I can point to my life experience and see places where I have directly and indirectly improved other people's lives with my work. From the worldwide users of BitWise to the worldwide clients of OxONet to the locals whom I consult with in their homes and offices, what I do is a valuable service to the everyday men and women of my city and our world. Who knows, maybe there's even an aspiring entrepreneur out there who might even call what I'm doing "cool."
Michael Phelps certainly is living a dream, and while sometimes I think about how awesome it might be to be living that dream, I instead chose a different path, a different dream--my dream. I may not inspire my country or the world, but when I work with someone, whether I've set up a new web site, fixed a rash of viruses infecting their PC, or set up that small business with the best IM solution out there, I too have the gold around my neck. You can't see it, but I can feel it.
Michael and I aren't all that different after all. We're both just reaching for our golds, and that is bigger than even Olympics. Bring home the gold, Michael!