But it is the struggle for success that makes success so great. If success came easy, everyone would have it. The fact that success is difficult to attain is what makes it so special and rewarding.

The process of overcoming these losses is what strengthens our mind and soul. Overcoming adversity is what makes us tough. Think about it... meeting resistance is exhausting. It tears us down - it wears us out. Compare it to lifting weights. In strength training we lift weights (resistance) so we can tear down our muscles. We get tired from lifting weights. And then with proper rest and nutrition, our bodies rebuild... stronger than before. Then we lift more weights for more repeititions, tearing down our muscles again, and then through proper diet and rest our muscles rebuild to an even stronger state.

Losses are just like those weights. They are heavy, they are difficult to handle - they are no fun. But by experiencing losses it allows for, even promotes the growth within sport that we desperately need to succeed. Without facing these losses head on and overcoming them it would be difficult to grow.

I recall in 1982, when I was 23 years old, I was training extremely hard and had been for a number of years, and yet I had never won a Senior National title. I remember discussing the fact with my girlfriend at the time, who is now my wife, Leslie. I remember how frustrated I was and telling her, "I train my living butt off, and for what?"

The next day we were scheduled to leave Ann Arbor, Michigan where we lived and drive to Cincinnati, Ohio to compete in the U.S. Greco-Roman Nationals. I remember suggesting to Leslie that we should just keep driving right through Cincinnati all the way to Florida and just take a vacation. "I'm tired of busting my butt for nothing," I told her.

Fortunately Leslie was thinking more rationally that I was so after I came to my senses and stopped feeling sorry for myself, I was back to my original plan of competing in Cincinnati.

Well, wouldn't you know it? The saying, "it is always darkest before the dawn" really rang true. I went down to Cincinnati and won my first National Greco title by beating Mike Houck in the finals.

Losses, like weights, tear us down. But through proper evaluation, psychological and physical rejuvenation we get stronger. We overcome those losses and move forward in our quest for success.

From that victorious National Championship day forward, I looked at losses differently. I realize that I was afraid to lose. And when you are afraid of something you tend to hesitate or stay away from it. I made a conscious decision that I was going to run full speed ahead. No more caution about failure or losing. I was going to give it my very best every time and win or lose I would learn from my experiences and I would be proud.