James "The Iron Cowboy" Lawrence - Redefining the Impossible

Finding this gift didn’t come quick to Lawrence, but that journey to self-discovery isn’t one he’d trade away. “I learned a lot of my lessons through sport,” Lawrence said. “I used the school system and the opportunities there to participate in sport. I had some great coaches, and I gravitated towards wrestling.” And it was there Lawrence first began to cultivate the mental toughness that would serve him well years later.

Being a world-class triathlete is grueling. It takes a lot of time, effort, work, sacrifice, and suffering, but Lawrence does it because when he speaks to groups of people, be it in business or an auditorium of kids, he wants them to know that rewards are rewards not simply handed out. And it’s the hard work one puts in that is a considerable portion of that reward.

“The question I believe the young people of today need to be asking themselves is, okay, I know what I want, but what am I willing to sacrifice in order to do it,” Lawrence said. “And then they have to be patient with the process to get it.”

Lawrence believes that the world of today is one of instant gratification. People want success right away, but that is a process that builds over time. Looking for the quickest way to success is the fastest route to failure. “For long-term sustainability and success, and to truly be an expert, that takes time, energy, effort, and sacrifice.”