Counterpoint: If Iron Sharpens Iron, Then It’s Best To Own Some Iron
As Proverbs 27:17 states, iron sharpens iron. This is by far one of the most quoted bible verses in all of sports. This is because it’s a fact that to be the best you must test yourself against the best. However, there is a counterpoint to this thinking I believe goes ignored far too often.
You can only test yourself against the best when the best are available. Unfortunately for most, this is not often. How will you sharpen your iron then? The answer is simple. You must own some iron, which means being able to compete with yourself.
If you compete with yourself you always have a competitor around to motivate you. Understanding this simple fact is a game changer. When you can serve as your own iron, you can constantly be in the process of sharpening.
In addition, when your #1 competitor is the man or woman in the mirror, all others become sparring partners to make you a better competitor with yourself. Unquestionably, this requires a mental shift. A shift most elite athletes not only accept, they embrace.
Elite athletes at their best constantly find ways to measure their best. Then use this as motivation to break their personal records as often as possible. So if you truly want to become the best version of yourself, you must own the iron and never let it get dull.