When I was in high school, my brother ran cross-country on our high school track team in Florida. On the opposite side of the country, one of the most incredible runners of all time, Steve Prefontaine, was breaking all track records while running track for the University of Oregon.

Under the ground breaking coaching of Bill Bowerman (founder of Nike), Steve ignored personal pain and agony in order to get faster. When asked why he would put his body through such brutality, Steve answered, “To do less than your best is to sacrifice the gift.”

Though Bill Bowerman went on cobbling shoes for his runner and later founded Nike, on May 30, 1975, Steve “Pre” Prefontaine was tragically killed in a car accident. But one thing’s for sure, he left it all out on the track. There was not a race inside him that day he’d left unraced. Not an ounce of running energy left unexpended.

You have a gift as well. You may not be able to break a four-minute mile but you can write an award-winning novel. Yeah, you’ll have to work at it. Shucks, you’ll labor, sweat, cry, bite your tongue to keep from cursing. You’ll slam your laptop shut and toss it in the closet, promising yourself you’ll never type another word.

But then, once the frustration of the moment passes you’re faced with the same truth “Pre” stared down as he pushed himself painfully around the track. You just can NOT sacrifice the gift. You can’t hide from it. You can’t ignore it—at least for long. You have to keep writing… keep improving… continue trying.

You’re a champion and champions may not come across the finish line first, but it’s not because they didn’t give it all they had. You may have entered that contest, only to not even semifinal. Or your stack of rejection letters may be wallpapering your home office.

So what?

That’s not important. Nor what you should be focused on. Laser in on the gift and don’t sacrifice it no matter what. Because “Pre” had it right when he said to do less than your best is to sacrifice the gift.

Do.Not.Sacrifice.The.Gift!

How do you feel about your gift? Are you giving it your all? Share it here.