A couple of weeks ago I had the privilege of speaking for the eighth graders who go to the Oxford Boys and Girls Club. By the way, the people there are doing a great work. It was an opportunity to share with the group thoughts from my recently published “Time for the Exceptional”. At the conclusion of the talk, I asked for comments and one young musician blew me away when he shared what he had learned. He said, “I learned. You have to choose your friends carefully.” This got me excited, because that was not part of my original presentation; it was simply a speaker’s side-comment.
Choose wisely
We cannot choose our family; the Universe is in command of that. Nevertheless, as far as our friends are concerned, we can decide who we will befriend, and who we will “feed with a long-handle spoon” as old folks you used to say. Our friends are the ones we congregate with around the water fountain, play ball with, hang out on the phone with and oh yeah – Text with very often late into the night.
Being choosey about our friends does not mean being nasty, unkind or hurtful toward others. It does mean. However, being selective about how you will allow them to influence your life. The old saying “birds of a feather flock together” still holds true in many instances.
We all make choices daily. As the youth of today, you must be mindful; the decisions you make today can follow you the rest of your life. Hey - think about that! At 48 years of age, I can share with you how a decision I made in the eleventh grade directly set the course for the rest of my life. These principles do not change with time. It is important we learn to use wisdom in a way that it becomes a habit if life.
If we want to get ahead, we must choose friends who want to move along the same road of life. People who are getting ahead in life want to be with other people who are working in the same direction, for iron sharpens iron the good book says.
Be a dreamer
It is important to surround yourself with people who are willing to let you dream, imagine, and think outside the box. Better yet, they will imagine with you. Imagining is the creative stamp of the Creator upon us. It is the place where the conception of the next great invention is taking on the way. The cure for cancer is being developed in a lab somewhere; but the genesis of it will first be in imagination of some scientist who allowed herself or himself to dream and think outside the conventional - To go into the mind where we have never gone before. So wish upon your star.
Lay a foundation
Upon every great structure is a steady and firm foundation. This is true for our lives as well. Education and learning are so essential. Go to school and learn from the masters. Study, learn as much as possible. Go to workshops, museums; take community classes at the local university or college. Learn something new. Heck! Turn the titanic of your life around and head into a different direction if the one you are traveling is not serving you well.
A word about education. Primarily, I am speaking about “formal” education. However, one of the smartest men I ever knew was my father – Elton Walls. He was a tree-cutter, farmer, inventor and the world’s greatest handy man. He had very little “formal” education – his education was his experiences and LIFE. It must be understood he lived in a totally difference era. To depend on that today, is not smart; even he would admit that. I guess that is why he sent my sisters and me to college. Even with education, it is not a piece of cake.
The technology is changing daily; we are moving faster than ever-in terms of world competition. Innovation drives our culture. Look at how email, iPhone, and the internet has catapulted our world into other stratospheres. The key to being successful in your time is to be prepared. It is hard work; well, what else do you have to do, sit around, and wait for something to happen? Things ARE happening right around you and when you are blind you cannot see these things, nor can you SEE how to be a part of their invention or development into an industry. That is where an opportunity is. That is where you want to be – but you must first lay a foundation in order to build a steady structure to support your involvement.
Never, Never Give up
Sir Winston Churchill said it best. You cannot stop wishing, wanting and working. You just can’t! Successful people are not quitters. They find a way to climb the mountains of life; they moved around obstacles and seeking other options. Ironically, that is usually where we find our greatest discoveries.. That one simple nugget can open the door to your Comstock Lode.
Finally, be a friend
Remember the Boys and Girls Club? The story I told the group was about the day I quite the football team in the 9th grade. The club now sits on that same football field from years ago.
Coach Bridges told me to do seven laps around the field. I said I could not and would not do it. He said, “Okay, you can’t play on my team.” For a few hours, I had stamped across my mental forehead “QUITTER.” The next day, I went back and said, “Coach, I’m no quitter.” “Do the laps” he said.
As I ran, about the fifth lap I was having a hard time, practically crawling. My best friend Arnie came along side and ran with me. After practice finished, others came along and paced me the entire time saying, “Benny you can do it, c’mon man”. I did the seven laps, thanks to good friends who encouraged me and were on my side; these are the people you want running with in life. Even today, Arnie and I talk frequently. I had the privilege of marrying him to his bride years later.
To get ahead, never give up – stay the course.
No comments:
Post a Comment