«Working and training at the champion level isn`t for everybody. It`s just not. There`s so much pain, so much sacrifice, so many hours, so much sheer monotony and minutiae; there`s so much you have to think about and dedicate yourself to – to chase perfection. It`s not about talent. Everyone at the highest levels of any field is talented. It`s commitment… For most people, making it to the top level is enough. They pat themselves on the back… and enjoy the competition… Lots of people put in serious work for a while in pursuit of the goals, and eventually get to a place where they`re comfortable… they have achieved a good 90 percent… that`s great. But that`s not excellence. Excellence is maximizing everything you have in the categories that matter your long-term goals. Excellence requires short – term pain for long-term gain. It`s painful, in the short term, to get up at 5:00 a.m. and work out; its`s painful to say «no» to a cookie. Long- term, the habits add up to incredible gain…»