The GOAT

Who would you say the GOAT (Greatest of All Time) in athletics is?

Many would vote for football star Tom Brady. He’s not the most likable guy, but at age 43, he’s still lighting up the scoreboard. 

Lance Armstrong won the Tour de France seven times! It’s hard to deny his accomplishments and skill, despite the doping!

Ken Burns says it’s Mohammed Ali. His latest film chronicles Ali’s career. 

Simone Biles isn’t a bad choice; she’s the most decorated female gymnast in history. 

Just imagine the pressure a GOAT feels! Think of the focus and discipline required. Few people have what it takes to be the GOAT in anything!

However, let’s look at it another way. 

Who is the GOAT in your life? By that, I mean, who had the greatest impact on your life? 

How would you describe that person? 

Here are the characteristics I thought of: 

-Gave me their undivided attention.

-Always had time for me and made me feel valued.

– Wise and confident, but not egotistical.

– Maintained a positive attitude, displaying high personal standards. 

– Focused outwardly on others rather than on themselves.

The skills required of an athletic GOAT are way out of reach. But the skills listed above don’t seem all that extreme. 

There is, however, one big difference.The athletic GOAT places their complete attention on themselves, while the most impactful people in our lives do the opposite. 

That’s a bigger deal than we might imagine!

I used to take cross-country motorcycle trips with a buddy who had an amazing characteristic. Whenever we stopped for dinner or to grab a beer, he always ended up in a converstation with the most attractive woman in the room. This happened so often that I began studying him. He was handsome, but not overly so. I couldn’t figure out what made him so charismatic. 

After one of our trips, I described this to MJ and asked her if she had any ideas. Without even pausing, she replied, “Oh, that’s easy. Dave is actually interested in people. When speaking with him, it’s like there’s no one else in the room.” 

That explanation would have sufficed, but she continued. “You’re the opposite. When I’m talking with you, your mind is often somewhere else!”

There you have it!

Someone who gives us their complete attention is pretty rare! Then again, GOATs are rare by definition. I would only list a couple names in the “Hall of Fame” of people who most impacted my life. 

It’s interesting to reflect on what made those people so influential. 

And what we might do to emulate them.

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