Jon,
What a wonderful post. Sacrifice is really what makes us stronger, smarter, faster and better ~ for others. This is why great leaders understand sacrifice. Because they realize it is the only "thing" that gives the goal, the destination, the product ~ that extra something special. Because great leaders also understand to be "great" it must be for others. Period.
There is so much I have learned over the last few years about sacrifice and it impacts, both the learning and the fact and truth of sacrifice. Any greatness, anything that has that "special" something extra, came to be from sacrifice. In our personal lives, spiritual lives, emotionally and professionally, sacrifice is the key that turns all the locks and opens all of the doors.