The Picture in My Office That Tells a Lie

. . . the desires of the diligent are fully satisfied

There’s a picture hanging in my office that tells a lie—a picture of a national champion, with my name listed as his coach. It’s not photoshopped, no digital tricks or editing involved. But when people see that image, they might think I was the mastermind behind his success. The truth is, I had very little to do with it. Let me tell you the real story behind that picture.

I’ve had the privilege of working with a lot of talented athletes over the years. I’ve taken athletes to the U.S. Track and Field Championships, coached countless races, and watched as several have achieved incredible things. But this story, this picture in my office, is tied to a fantastic German athlete named Jan Lukas.

His journey to me wasn’t planned—it was a stroke of luck on my part. His previous school switched to NCAA Division I, which restricted some of his eligibility, and somehow, he ended up at the school where I was coaching. From the moment I met Jan Lukas, I could tell he had national champion air surrounding him. He had already built an impressive resume, but there was one thing missing: a national title.

During our recruiting conversation, I never promised him a national championship. Instead, I promised him an environment that would allow him to thrive, a place where he could pursue his dream. But, ultimately, the work would be his. Little did I know how prepared he already was.

An Appetite for Success

I quickly realized that Jan Lukas was different. Sure, I could tell from his track times that he was good, but it was his meticulous nature that truly set him apart. He didn’t just train hard—he was intentional about everything, down to the very last detail. And nothing highlighted this more than his approach to food.

I remember one of our first trips where I was preparing dinner for the team. Like any coach, I wanted to make sure the athletes were well-fed. But when it came to Jan Lukas, he was so picky about what he ate—not in the way a toddler might be picky, but in a calculated, purposeful way. He knew exactly what he needed to fuel his body to perform at the highest level. Watching him, I realized that I had never met an athlete so careful about the small things. His appetite for success far exceeded his appetite for food.

Discipline Over Desire

It reminded me of a verse I read recently: “The sluggard craves and gets nothing, but the desires of the diligent are fully satisfied” (Proverbs 13:4). So many athletes I’ve coached have made bold declarations about wanting to be national champions. They dream big, they talk about their goals, but when it comes down to the daily grind, they fall short. These are what I like to call the “undisciplined dreamers”—those who crave success but lack the discipline to achieve it.

Jan Lukas was the exact opposite. He arrived at my office already knowing what it would take to become a national champion. He wasn’t just talking about his dream—he was living it, down to the smallest details, like what he ate for dinner. It wasn’t his eating habits that made him a champion, but his intentionality. Every choice he made pointed toward his goal.

The Croissant Before the Race

One memory stands out above the rest. We were on a trip to Boston for a big race. I was running around, focused on the logistics—transportation, meals, game plans—all the usual stuff. And then I noticed Jan Lukas walking up to me. In my head, I was thinking, “Here we go, he’s going to be picky about what he wants to eat in Boston.”

But instead, with his thick German accent, he said, “I found this great little pastry shop down the way. Could we go there if that’s okay with you?”

Pastries? I was floored. This was the guy who never wavered from his strict eating habits, and here he was suggesting a pastry shop. Curious, I agreed, and we made our way there, with a few other athletes tagging along. When we got to the shop, he encouraged me to try a chocolate croissant—something I didn’t need much convincing to do. Then, to my surprise, Jan Lukas ordered one for himself, along with a cappuccino.

There he was, the morning of an important race, eating a croissant. But here’s the thing—he had already done the work. He had crossed every 'T' and dotted every 'I.' This wasn’t a moment of weakness; it was a moment of celebration. He had earned the right to enjoy life, and man, did we enjoy that time in the coffee shop.

That night, Jan Lukas ran a lifetime best, set a school record in the 5000 meters, and pretty much secured his spot at the national championships.

The Picture That Hangs in My Office

The picture in my office captures a moment at those national championships. There’s Jan Lukas, smiling, surrounded by his teammates, having won the national title at high altitude—he was the only athletes that lived at sea level that placed in the top ten and ran one of the fastest times in Colorado in the last 50 years. But here’s the thing: I had nothing to do with that moment other than enjoying pastries with a dedicated athlete.

Jan Lukas was not a sluggard. He was diligent, focused, intentional. He understood that craving success wasn’t enough—you had to put in the work to be fully satisfied. That’s the story behind the picture in my office, and that’s the truth Proverbs 13:4 reminds me of every day.