Sacrificing

“How’d you do it?” they asked, eyes wide with admiration.

“Hard work,” he replied with a confident smile. “Determination. Focused effort.”

Another chimed in, “But really, what’s the secret?”

He leaned in, voice dropping to a whisper. “Discipline. Sacrifice.”

“Come on, there must be more,” a skeptic insisted.

“Honestly, that’s it,” he said, shrugging.

A murmur of respect rippled through the crowd. Then someone pointed to the corner of the room, “What about that?”

Everyone turned. A giant, flashing neon sign read: “BIRTH LOTTERY WINNER!”