Athletes Balance Achievement

Ryan Holiday shares a story about meeting successful people who maintain balance, using Manu Ginobili as an example.

"I had lunch with Manu Ginobili who just got inducted in the hall of fame this month. We were having lunch at the bookstore, and it struck me - this dude has 4 rings, 2 gold medals, and is a hall of famer.

When you think about someone who has 4 rings, you think more of a Jordan character who is fundamentally out of balance. Jordan is one of the greats, if not the greatest athlete, but we tend to think that to be that good requires fundamental trade-offs about what kind of person you are and your day-to-day life.

Like Tom Brady - comes back to football, he can't walk away, and it may cost him his marriage. People see that and think 'that's what it takes.' But I'm not sure that is what it takes. That might be what it took in that specific scenario.

The more I meet really successful people, I become less impressed by how much money they made or whether they have the most rings, and instead ask: Is this person a good parent? Do they seem like they live in reality? Are they actually able to wake up and enjoy what they have today? Or are they just always traveling here and there, always doing stuff?

To me, it's almost easier to be great than it is to be good."