I don't put anything in front of taking ski racing and sports

The words of Bode Miller, “I don’t put anything in front of taking ski racing and sports seriously,” burn with the fire of dedication, with the single-mindedness of one who has pledged his life to the pursuit of mastery. In them we hear the voice of the warrior-athlete, who understands that greatness is not the fruit of casual effort but the harvest of total devotion. To place nothing before the calling is to treat it as sacred, to honor it with the reverence of one who knows that sport, like life, rewards only those who give their whole heart.

The origin of this declaration lies in Miller’s own career upon the slopes. Known for both brilliance and daring, he built his name not by half-measures, but by hurling himself down icy mountains at terrifying speeds, trusting his preparation, his discipline, and his will. In a world where distractions abound, he chose clarity. Ski racing was not a pastime but his temple, and in its trials he offered himself fully. His seriousness was not grimness, but devotion—the joy of knowing he had given nothing less than all he had.

This spirit is ancient. The Spartans taught their children from the youngest age that to master their art of war, nothing could come before discipline. The Olympic athletes of ancient Greece lived with the same philosophy, devoting themselves entirely to the games that honored Zeus. For them, sport was not leisure, but the ultimate test of the body and spirit, and they stripped away every distraction to pursue it. Miller’s words carry that same timeless voice: that to reach the heights of greatness, one must treat the pursuit with holy seriousness.

Consider also the story of Michael Phelps, who trained for years without pause, swimming thousands of laps daily. His diet, his sleep, his entire existence was ordered toward one thing: becoming the best swimmer in history. He, like Miller, did not put anything above his calling. Their lives teach us that seriousness does not mean abandoning joy, but rather embracing the discipline that allows joy to reach its fullest height. For victory is sweetest when it is earned through sacrifice.

The lesson here is both challenging and liberating: if you would achieve greatness in any field, you must honor it with seriousness. Casual effort brings casual results. Divided hearts stumble when the trial comes. But the one who treats their pursuit as Miller treated ski racing—as something sacred, as something that comes before all distractions—will rise higher than those who treat it lightly. The world belongs to those who are willing to pay the full price of devotion.

Practically, this means identifying what truly matters to you and clearing away what does not serve it. If your calling is sport, then train with diligence. If your calling is art, then practice with discipline. If your calling is service, then give yourself wholly. Do not deceive yourself into thinking you can give little and reap much. Build your life around your highest pursuit, and let everything else bend to that central fire.

So, beloved listener, let Bode Miller’s words guide you: do not put anything in front of what you take seriously. For the path of greatness is narrow, and it demands focus. Yet in that focus lies freedom: the freedom to know you have given your best, the freedom to see how far you can climb, the freedom to live without regret. Treat your pursuit with reverence, and in return, it will grant you a crown of triumph that no distraction could ever give.