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I have often shared with my coaching clients that I have come to believe we are the most vulnerable when we are doing well. I have observed that when we are thriving in any given area in our lives, there is a very strong temptation to become complacent – I guess that this dynamic is simply a part of our flawed humanity. Additionally, life has a way of becoming very messy at times, often without any warning, whether we’re doing well or not.

Late in the evening on September 29, 331 B.C., one of the greatest military battles in all recorded history was about to take place. It became known as “The Battle of Gaugamela (GA-GA-MELL-A),” between Alexander The Great of Macedonia, and Darius, King of The Persian Empire. Darius had already lost two previous battles to Alexander, and he was determined not to lose this third, and decisive fight.

The fiercest competition that I have ever faced was confronting my own demons and overcoming them; the second fiercest was besting my best performances. We live in a world where competition reigns supreme. We adore the fastest, the strongest, the smartest – The Best! But the challenge with competition is that most of it is externally motivated, rather than inwardly directed. With full disclosure, I have engaged in externally motivated competition many times throughout my journey; it began on the little league field, and it pursued me through young adulthood.