Have you ever accomplished something great, only to wonder next, “Now, what?” Or maybe you’ve never asked that question. Rather, you’ve just continued to be proud of that moment or accomplishment but have never moved beyond it.
I had such a case a few years ago. I took a backpacking trip with some guys only to be terribly embarrassed at how slow I was. Still proud of my extensive backpacking experience from my teen years, I had failed to realize the effects of being out of shape and out of practice. Trust me. Twenty years and a hundred pounds do make a difference!
In a recent interview with Catalyst Leadership magazine, Coach Tony Dungy remarked about why he doesn’t wear his Super Bowl rings:
“I got my first ring in Pittsburgh in 1978. When the boxes with the rings came in, our coach said, ‘Wear them for a week. Show your family, all your friends, everybody that wants to see a Super Bowl ring. Then put it back in the box. We’ve got to go to work on the next one.’ That was the team’s mentality. Some of the guys on the Steelers had four rings and didn’t wear them. When we finally won ours in Indianapolis, I told the team the same thing.”
In ancient times, the Greeks would present a wreath made of laurel branches to winners of games, battles, etc. This custom was later adopted in the educational system in some places and even today we still use the term “Bachelor” in reference to a university degree (from the Latin baccalaureus, “berry laurel”). Even in the modern age the laurel wreath still represents victory or great achievements.
There’s nothing wrong with celebrating great deeds whether that means wearing the ring, displaying that certificate, or otherwise showing off your pride over a great accomplishment. But we should be careful not to base our identity on such a thing.
To paraphrase Coach Dungy, “Don’t rest on your laurels. Put those awards in your collection and let’s get back to work focusing on the next great task that lies before you!”
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