Today is the final of the NCAA Track and Field Championships in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Bob Low is participating in the Pole Vault final. Bob has consistently been ranked in the top 5 in the country as a vaulter for BYU.

The pole vault is an exceptionally difficult event. It takes incredible self-discipline, focus, and a combination of natural ability and technique developed over the years. Bob started as a hurdler when he was just 9 years old, following in the footsteps of other family members. But it was the pole-vault that intrigued him and he participated in his first national championship in the 8^th grade.

In that first championship clearing the bar at 8 feet was a daunting task and after failing to advance, Bob declared he would never jump again and then the tears of disappointment poured out of his young eyes. That was 12 years ago and today his senior year will culminate in his last college championship. He has broken many records along the way and now jumps 10 feet higher than he did in the 8^th grade. He was not a quitter.

We can learn a lot from athletes. They make a choice to win, to be high performers. They choose to overcome all odds to be the best they can be. Sometimes that really hurts. They suffer setbacks, injuries, and blows to a fragile ego, painful failures and broken dreams. They  never give up; they pick themselves up after a loss and work even harder to achieve the ultimate goal.

The beauty of sports, especially track and field is that it has room for participants on every level. It is why jogging and road racing became so popular. The average guy and gal could achieve personal bests every time they ran a race. In the pole vault they ‘raise the bar” when a height has been cleared…setting the bar for a new height and each ¼ inch is a remarkable accomplishment.

At Leadership Excellence we cheer for Bob Low today as he is a part of our excellence family and all the other participants and wish them the very best. We believe in helping people find a wiser, better way to live their life and lead their organizations. Raise your own bar and clear new heights. Advance your personal training to include new goals and dreams. We offer a Personal Excellence Plan that can serve as a guide for your personal development and help you sustain your training.