Analogies are stories, they are tools used to bridge confusion to clarity. They are often used to motivate, inspire, and lead people to greatness in sports and across industries. In this article, I will use an analogy to uncover what stands between us and achieving a level of greatness that challenges a champion’s will and positions us as a formidable opponent capable of dethroning their GOAT status.

Let’s start by acknowledging the obvious factors contributing to success in sports and business: hard work, discipline, will, and tenacity. These are the bare minimum entry-level requirements to even step onto the playing field for sports, business, and life. But what sets the truly great apart from the rest? Why is the pool of excellence in professional sports so small? The answers to these questions are too crucial to be left to chance or ambiguity. That’s why we’ll use an analogy to illuminate this topic.

The Spoon.

Consider the spoon — a familiar, everyday tool used for the most delicate tasks. Its appearance and functionality are exceptional for its use. We use spoons to eat soups and ice cream, feed babies, and measure ingredients (e.g., teaspoons, tablespoons). They are purchased with these tasks in mind, stored away until needed, and then effortlessly employed at events like birthday parties without a second thought.

The story of a Can of Beans and the Spoon.

Now, consider this true story involving a spoon and a can of beans. Two college girls, besties, were on campus for the weekend. One night, they found themselves broke and hungry with one can of baked beans and a spoon. After searching for the obvious, a can opener, they resolved that this was the only tool they had to open the can of beans. Opening a steel can of beans with a spoon was something neither of them had ever done, so the job seemed, impossible and hopeless. However, their hunger was bigger than the situation they found themselves in, so they began to work on that can of beans with the spoon. Sweating and laughing at the difficulty they faced, they did not give up. As they took turns jamming each end of the spoon into the steel-plated can of beans, their fingers began to cramp, and occasionally, they would hurt themselves by stabbing their hand with the end of the spoon. Nonetheless, they were determined to open that can of beans to stop their aching stomachs. With great persistence, they eventually broke open the can; once the slightest opening was made in the can, they knew they would eat.

Our Analogy.

Let’s draw a parallel between this story and our lives with an analogy. In this analogy, our body is the spoon — a tool, and our brains are like hunger. In the story, the girls hunger dictates what the spoon can and will do. Even though the task was hard and time-consuming — almost to the point of disbelief — their hunger would not allow them to stop.

“Their brains had envisioned the end from the beginning and brought every thought captive to this desired expectation by utilizing their bodies.”

The truth is that most of us live a life of complacency and are careful to keep our abilities within our point of achievement. It is especially true when all of our needs are being met. Unless there is some urgency, we will only do what is needed. The challenge of opening a steel can of beans with a spoon in this analogy set a standard for these girls in real life that will serve them for a lifetime. Like true champions, their hunger persisted, driving them to attain a particular goal — developing qualities that would not allow them to give up, regardless of their circumstances or challenges.

The Answer.

Here is the answer to the previous question: ‘What sets the truly great apart from the rest?’ When our minds conceive a vision of a seemingly unattainable goal, we must not give up but hold every thought captive to this vision. It is the only way to stay driven and use our bodies as tools to serve us, fulfilling their intended purpose — just as a spoon does when being used to open and eat a steel-plated can of beans. Go Play!

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