Are You One of Them?

TV fascinates me; not the shows, because they are mostly junk, but the commercials. Everything from the jingles, to the picture, and especially the message is designed to get us to buy things. Yet more insidious are the promises they make. They promise products that will make us smarter, stronger, more successful, extremely popular and, of course, better looking. They promise happiness and long life and if we listen closely, they promise that we will be remembered; they promise a legacy.

Of course we logically know that none of the products can deliver on these promises, but they seduce us anyway. Perhaps if I have the right suit, brightest teeth and use the right pen I can be successful. Maybe if I upgrade to the newest computer or software version I will finally be efficient so that I can do what I really want to do. Maybe if I’m seen in the right places looking fabulous I’ll be discovered. The possibilities are endless and they are sad.

There is no shortcut to personal greatness. Utilizing the best of your capabilities and resources involves practice (expertise takes approximately 10,000 hours to obtain). It requires focus, not the multimedia distractions most flesh is heir to. Personal greatness requires commitment, dedication and it’s sometimes a very lonely journey. Those are just some of the challenges awaiting anyone who really desires to explore their personal greatness.

So, why bother? Because as human beings we are primed for more than just going through the motions and slugging back a beer at the end of the day. From the time we are little, we desire to leave a mark, to make a difference on this planet, to “be” somebody. Then we hit “reality.” We learn the arduous task of success. We understand the pain of being ostracized when our ideas are different. We discover the unique challenge of standing out from the crowd. And so it becomes easier not to bother.

Yet there are those who want to make a difference, through their work, their discoveries, their gifts, and their personal greatness. Each day they renew their commitment to choose their unique path and they make the journey knowing the cost. Some people support them and enjoy being with them. Yet even supporters see these unique individuals as “lucky” or “different” because they do what they believe in and work toward it despite the challenges. 

So for those of you who choose to explore your personal greatness I don’t say “good luck” because I don’t believe in luck. Every person I’ve met who is unleashing their best has made the choices necessary to do so. I say to you “continued success.” You are an inspiration to all of us. Thank you.