I spent some time with an old friend recently and reminisced about the good old days. One topic was a guy named Jeremy. He was a kid we’d played baseball with throughout our adolescence. Jeremy was always the standout and from the ages of 8 to 18, he was the best player we knew.

My friend told a story from college about seeing Jeremy on campus one summer. He’d invited him to a party that night and Jeremy had declined on the spot, saying he didn’t go out and party because he was “trying to make it to the league”. They were each 20 at the time.

Six years later, Jeremy made it to the league. He was called up for a 30 day stint in the Major Leagues. His run was short, but still, he’d made it. He was a professional baseball player. He’d be able to say that for the rest of his life.

Ever since that conversation, Jeremy’s comment has stuck with me. “Trying to make it to the league.” He didn’t want to make the league, he was actively trying to make the league. He was sacrificing then, at age 20, to achieve his goals. It’d be easy to shoot holes in his choices. Maybe he didn’t have much fun in college. Or, maybe he sacrificed so much for a very faint moment in the spotlight. But, I doubt that’s how he would see it. He had a goal and he achieved it. He didn’t just want something, he devoted himself and tried to attain it.

I think about that a lot. I think about the things I want, and then I think about the things I’m actually trying to get. It’s easy to want. We all want things. We want more money. We want to be in shape. We want to find love, and friends, and our passion. But, how much are we actually trying? How hard am I trying?

It takes sacrifice. Whatever your thing is, whatever you call it, it takes sacrifice. It won’t come easy and it won’t always be convenient. If you want to make it to the league, make sure you are really trying.