Wednesday Weblog for May 18, 2022 |
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Quote of the Week:
"A mentor is someone who sees more talent and ability within you than you see in yourself, and helps you bring it out." --Bob Proctor
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Leading Off: Not Always, But Likely |
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After a certain age, it could be as young as 21, your school regularly approaches you to support it. In my case, because I played intercollegiate soccer, the athletic department sends me lots of email, some of it informative, most of it with a request to financially support this or that.
The story below was sent by the University of Massachusetts at Amherst Athletic Director Ryan Bamford, and it stuck with me. It is not his story, but it is a good metaphor about what it takes to succeed.
When I read it, I realize whenever success eludes me, that I need to consider the fact that I likely did not have the passion, or dedication or purpose or motivation or self-interest to succeed. Not always, but likely.
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Once upon a time, there was a man who traveled from one small town to another, performing a tightrope act. One day he came to a little farming community.
He stood in the center of the town square and announced that he was going to go to the outskirts of town, stretch a rope across the wide river canyon, and walk across the rope while pushing a wheelbarrow.
Naturally, the farmers were skeptical. They didn’t think he could do it. So, the man went out to the edge of town, put his rope between two trees about five feet off the ground and began to practice. He got up on that rope with his wheelbarrow and walked back and forth, back and forth.
One farmer came out and began to watch. And the longer the farmer watched, the more he became convinced that the man could do what he said he was going to do. So, the farmer went back to the town square, where the skeptics were and said “Do y’all remember that man who said he was going to walk a tightrope across the wide canyon?” “Well, I believe he can do it,” said the farmer.
The skeptics laughed uncontrollably. “No, he can’t.”
The believing farmer said, “Well, come out to the edge of town. I want y’all to watch him.”
And they all went out to where the man was practicing on the rope. The one farmer said, “See, he’s doing it. I told you he could do it.” The disbelievers laughed again and said, ‘yeah, but that rope is only five feet off the ground. It ain’t hundreds of feet in the air across the big canyon.”
And the believer said, ‘well, I’ll tell you how much I believe. I’ll betcha $10 he can do it.” And when he said that the man on the rope stopped, turned in his direction and said, “Do you believe I can walk across that wide open canyon on this rope while pushing a wheelbarrow?”
The farmer replied, “I sure do. I bet $10 on you, didn’t I?” And the man on the rope said, “Well then, hop in. Get in the wheelbarrow!”
You see, it’s quite one thing to stand on the sideline and say “I believe”—It’s quite another to get in the wheelbarrow.
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Now I have never walked a tightrope, although I have used a wheelbarrow.
I've never been a farmer, but I have bet on the outcome of a contest.
But in real life, I think I've also played both the role of the tightrope walker and the farmer in this story. You probably have as well.
As a tightrope walker, (or half-marathon runner, take your pick), I've walked the thin line between, wait for it, bravery and stupidity.
As the farmer, I've expressed enough confidence in someone to bet on them, but I haven't hopped in the wheelbarrow every time.
Without maybe realizing it, we sometimes are in a gray area between believing and acting on our beliefs. I call it being 'half-in.'
- It could be you are passionate about politics, but don't work on anyone's campaign.
- It could be that you know someone well enough to write them a recommendation on LinkedIn, but don't take the time (hint, hint).
- It could be you complain about inequities in your workplace, but keep silent when you have a chance to speak up.
- It could be that you are a huge Red Sox fan, but never go to a game
When these statements, and others like them, describe us, they remind us that we are actually in a 'half-in' level of passion, bravado, courage, support or enthusiasm. Half-in. We are just on the edge of the wheelbarrow, but never inside. I wonder why?
For years I used a metaphor that parents absolutely understand, and most others do as well:
If you child was sick and you brought them to the hospital and it was closed, what would you do? You'd go to another hospital right? And if that was closed? You'd go to another hospital, right? And if that was closed? You get the point, you would keep going until you found a hospital. That's being all in.
There are times and situations where you just won't stop. Where your passion or dedication or purpose or motivation or self-interest are just so strong, that you will not stop. You are in the wheelbarrow, maybe with a parachute, but you are in the wheelbarrow. You WILL find an open hospital.
The next time success eludes you, consider the fact that you likely did not have the passion, or dedication or purpose or motivation or self-interest to succeed. Not always, but likely.
If you still believe the goal you haven't reached yet was worth achieving, well then, hop in!
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To submit your advice simply reply to this email and send it in. There is no guarantee it will be published, but I'll do my best to get the best ideas included. Even if it is not published right away, keep looking for it. |
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Submitted by KJ from the Jersey Shore
“Seek advice from those who’ve seen it,
not from those seeing it with you”.
A piece of advice from my uncle who pointed out the importance of mentors who’ve walked paths in front of you (versus seeking your contemporaries who may need the same advice/guidance that you’re seeking). I have close relationships to this day with professional mentors who are as old or older than my parents and approached for mentorship from professionals younger than my adult daughter.
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Surprise Photo at the End: How True |
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Joe's Positive Post of the Week |
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The Roll Call of states and countries where readers reside: Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, Washington and Washington DC, Wisconsin plus Canada, Spain, Conch Republic, Australia and the United Kingdom |
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Ed Doherty
774-479-8831
www.ambroselanden.com
ed-doherty@outlook.com
Forgive any typos please.
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