The Exchange Rate of Success
Someone lied to you.
They told you it was supposed to be fun.
They told you it would feel good most of the time.
They told you that if you just wanted it badly enough, the process would magically align with your preferences.
That’s not how this works.
Accomplishing meaningful goals rarely feels convenient, comfortable, or exciting in the moment. Most of the time, it feels boring. Repetitive. Lonely. Inconvenient. It feels like doing the thing you don’t want to do when no one is watching, again and again.
If you truly want your goals, you don’t get to do what’s desired.
You have to do what’s required.
This isn’t a “sacrifice a little, get a lot” universe.
It’s far more honest than that.
Sacrifice a lot → get a lot.
Sacrifice a little → get a little.
That’s the exchange rate. Always has been.
The problem is we love setting goals because it’s exciting. It feels productive. It gives us identity. But goals are cheap. Everyone has them. What actually matters is something far more uncomfortable:
What are you willing to give up?
Your evenings?
Your excuses?
Your distractions?
Your comfort?
Your ego?
Your current routines?
Goals and sacrifices are directly correlated. You don’t get one without the other. You can’t separate the outcome from the cost and still expect the reward.
And here’s the part no one likes to say out loud:
If you’re not willing to sacrifice for your goals, that’s okay. Truly.
But understand that your goals become the sacrifice.
Because when you refuse to sacrifice for your goals, your goals don’t disappear,
They become the sacrifice. That's the trade you’re making.
And the universe always collects.
Here’s the good news: this isn’t punishment, it’s power.
You get to choose. Every day.
You get to decide what matters enough to earn your effort, your time, and your discomfort. And when you align your sacrifices with something that actually means something to you, the work stops feeling like a loss and starts feeling like an investment.
Progress isn’t built on motivation. It’s built on decisions.
Small, unglamorous, repeatable decisions that compound into confidence, capability, and pride.
When you choose the sacrifice on purpose, you take control of the outcome. You stop hoping. You start building.
So pick a goal that’s worthy of the cost.
Commit to the trade.
And show up; not perfectly, but consistently.
Because the work doesn’t just change the result.
It changes you.
Nick Carignan
CrossFit 8 Mile
