David McCullough once said, "Real success is finding your lifework in the work that you love." Lance Armstrong perhaps demonstrates this quote better than any other living human. Armstrong, professional cyclist and five-time winner of the Tour De France, has transformed his form of play into his work. In 1998, Armstrong was diagnosed with cancer. After several months of Chemotherapy, and after being told he had less that a 20 percent chance of living, he made an amazing full recovery. He returned to cycling, and the next year dominated the entire playing field in the Tour De France. Every Second Counts by Lance Armstrong teaches a freshman in high school how to persevere through hardships, stay committed to a goal, and live life to the fullest.

First, Armstrong teaches perseverance of hardships. "I knew that cancer was more difficult than any race. I could always draw from that knowledge, and...