Thursday, April 10, 2014

My Why


So I want everyone to think back to when they were five. The dreams you had of who you were going to be when you grew up. Michael Jordan comes to mind at least for me. Why not a great basketball player? I think because at a young age we knew the difference between being something and becoming someone. Michael Jordan was not only an incredible athlete but an incredible man. An amazing role model, on and off the court. Now take away all the extra details of who you wanted to be, and what are we left with? An idea of a legacy, a role model, an imprint left on this world. That's what we all wanted to be. Great. Now I want you to visualize going back in time to when you were five. Imagine your five year old self running up to you calling your name, saying, "who are we? Who did we become? What are we doing?" Now imagine your answer being "nobody. Nothing. We aren't doing anything." "What why not?" "Well it was just too hard." Now try explaining to your hope-filled five year old self your reasons for giving up. It doesn't feel so good does it? You know why? Because when you were five, there was no such thing as too hard. Your vision of who you were going to become had no strings attached or restrictions. It just was. So why isn't it now? I think it's easy to forget our why because it's not right in front of us. We don't see it. But imagine every time you come home from work, your five year old self is waiting at the door begging you to tell you what you've accomplished today. Because in all reality, that's exactly what happens. Every single night when you lay your head down on your pillow, you're faced with yourself. Your dreams, wishes, and goals. Don't let the fears, worries, and struggles of your everyday life defer you from becoming who you've always wanted to be. Now there's a reason I keep saying who and not what. Because what is physical but who is not.What can be taken away from you. Whocan never be taken from you. Who you are is determinate solely on you. No one else. Yes, I can't wait to own five houses, a yacht, an island, be a consultant, retire my parents, travel the world in my own private jet. Yes, those are all things that motivate me and keep me focused. But every single one of those things can be taken from me. My houses could burn down, my island could disappear, I could go bankrupt and my businesses could go under. But the only thing that can never be taken from me is who I want to become. My ideal self. That's my why. That's what I have to come home to every night when my five year old self wants to know if I'm one step closer. Let's make sure that today we can go home confidently. Knowing we gave today our 100% and are one step closer to becoming who we've always dreamed of being.