I was recently reading an article about Kailub Russell, a hugely successful off-road dirt bike racer who retired early while still on top. Instead of continuing to compete, he shifted his focus to mentoring and coaching. Many questioned why he would walk away at such a young age, especially after dominating for so long and still having his best years ahead of him. Now, five years later, he has some clarity. Like they say, hindsight is 20/20.

Kailub said, “I had a great career, and at the time I was more scared of losing than I had the desire to keep winning. So the thought of ‘What would happen if I lost?’ kind of made the decision for me.”

That hit me hard. My whole life and career I’ve worked to be the best at whatever I set my sights on, whether it was athletics, carpentry, running a business, or riding my dirt bike. I’ve always wanted to come out on top and would grind myself into the ground to make it happen. Why? Sure, I wanted success, I wanted to be the best, I wanted to prove to others that I could do it. But if I’m being honest, even more than that, I was insecure. There have been times in my life when I’ve opted out of competing, walked away from opportunities, or chosen not to pursue certain clients, not because I didn’t want to succeed, but because I was scared someone else might be better than me.

How many times have you done something similar? Turned down an opportunity, passed on a potential lead, didn’t apply for a job, or walked away from something, not because you weren’t ready, but because of fear? It’s not that you lacked the drive or the preparation. It’s that fear overshadowed your desire to win. We all want to succeed, but we don’t always realize how much pressure comes with it until we’re in that position. Being at the top is tough. You have a target on your back, and people are watching, waiting for you to stumble. That pressure is real, and it’s exhausting.

In my opinion, it’s far easier to be the hunter than the hunted. It’s a strange realization after spending my life working, hustling, training, and preparing to reach my full potential. When the moment comes to put all that hard work to the test, why does fear creep in? Shouldn’t we be celebrating the chance to showcase what we’ve built? Why are we so afraid of not coming out on top? Is a silver medal really worth so much less than gold? Why do we let the fear of rejection or failure outweigh the satisfaction of giving it everything we’ve got?

If you’ve worked your ass off, showed up when it mattered, and gave it your best, that should be enough. Whether you stand on the top step of the podium, win the job, or land the position, the result doesn’t define your worth or effort. Those moments when things don’t go your way? They’re opportunities to learn and grow. What could you have done differently? How can you refine your process? Were you really outmatched, or just not the right fit this time? The losses often teach us more than the wins.

Reading Kailub’s words reminded me that even those at the very top struggle with these same insecurities and fears. That’s really what it comes down to, not the money, the credit, or the recognition, but the fear of losing and the weight of those internal battles.

I’ve always said that if you do your best, work your hardest, and leave it all on the field, you have nothing to be ashamed of. No regrets. You are where you deserve to be. And I’ll admit, it’s oddly comforting to know that someone like Kailub, arguably the greatest of all time, has wrestled with the same feelings I’ve struggled with for years. Sorry, Kailub, but thanks for the solidarity.

For a long time, I thought I was alone in feeling this way, fighting internal battles and doubting whether my efforts were good enough. My desire to win was there, but at times it wasn’t enough to overpower my fear. My advice, both to myself and anyone else who can relate: lighten up. Have fun. Accept that you won’t win them all, and recognize that the pressure we put on ourselves can be motivating, but it also carries a heavy emotional toll. Focus on your desire to win, your passion to be the best, and don’t let fear stand in the way of your full potential.