Kenya's greatest marathon runner of all time, Eliud Kipchoge, doesn't care for fame. At all.
The popular athlete who broke the world record and ran a marathon in under 2 hours says, the focus fro sportsmen should never ever be on fame.
Speaking to rugby players at a private breakfast event at the Impala Grounds a while back, Kipchoge said, "We know in sports, fame and money are the things giving sportsmen problems."
He added, "What is fame? Can you touch it? No. Then where is the problem coming from? When you happen to be famous which I think is not crucial, put it aside. Fame is there but can you touch it? No. Is it crucial? No.
You must ask yourself after being famous all day do you sleep? When you sleep you sleep alone you will not be famous in bed. You sleep alone. Life always goes on."
The iconic marathoner advised, "People are refusing to think. That thing is giving people problems then why don't you get away from this. Immediately it comes to you it gives you a problem."
To further illustrate his point Kipchoge explained, "When you go to a butcher to buy meat they use polythene and they cover with what newspaper. So it doesn't show. That is why we are African. Let us bring that into our lives. Today you win you are put in a polythene paper and wrapped again if you are doing the right thing they will look for you. Don't tell them they will smell it out."
Asked, what he does to win, Kipchoge said, "Belief in yourself. Ask the best of yourself. Whatever field you are in internalise it and profess that you will do it. Trust that you are the best in that field."
What inspired you and how did you keep motivating yourself after losing on the tracks?
"I failed to win in London but I knew it was not the end of the world I sat down with the whole team. Remember that the team is important. I took it all in. We set another goal and went for it."
Kipchoge said the book that changed his life is one.
"A lot of books are there but I would recommend Who Took My Cheese? The book is about change, change is important. If you read that book you will change and work with the right system and move on. So if you read the book you will have to change in all aspects that you need to change."
Who Moved My Cheese? is a bestselling seminal work and motivational business fable by Spencer Johnson. The text describes the way one reacts to major changes in one's work and life, and four typical reactions to those changes by two mice and two "Little people", during their hunt for "cheese".
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