Why?
Our moms were right; we possess and should use our talents. It goes beyond “to whom much is given, much will be required,” the biblically-inspired obligation declared in graduation speeches. We have an emotional need for challenge, growth, and success, Maslow’s esteem and self-actualization needs. Conversely, inaction, especially when coupled with awareness of unfulfilled potential, causes a corrosive malaise.
What?
We confuse ambition with notoriety rather than impact.
We are told to dream big, and our minds race to becoming President, the next Taylor Swift, or the next Jeff Bezos.
Regretfully, our first thoughts are not becoming spouse or parent of the year. Those who had the most significant influence on you, aside from your parents, are unlikely to be politicians, entertainers, or business tycoons. It was someone much closer and “smaller,” your coach, teacher, or kindly neighbor.
Consider the advice of someone who started small and continued until she impacted the world. Mother Theresa said, “Never worry about numbers. Help one person at a time and always start with the person nearest you.”
Therefore, do not unduly burden yourself nor sell yourself short. A teacher can profoundly influence one child for a lifetime. However, if that second-grade teacher can develop a curriculum that benefits the entire school, state, or nation, she should provide it.
Perhaps the lesson is not to agonize over the size of the ambition, but to have one that requires breakthrough growth and can yield a meaningful result. This method of pursuit delivers you to the place you need to be. Most of my books remain in my garage, but I am gratified by more than a few people telling me they have given church another chance.
Mind the GAP
What if you have a big, hairy, audacious goal of a sold-out stadium tour, but are still singing on open mike night at the local coffee shop?
We can have an extraordinary aspiration without knowing how it might come to fruition. We enable the audacious goal by pursuing the next challenging step toward making it a reality. Contestants on The Voice describe their journey from coffee shop to writing music to back-up singer, and so forth. The first-time author who wants to spread his message to 10,000 people expands his reach by recording an Audible book.
Even if you do not envision worldwide domination, it will come if destined. Ray Kroc and the Colonel could not have dreamed of more than 25,000 McDonald’s and KFCs worldwide. They did the groundwork, avoided anything that could preclude a grand future, added hard work, and the universe took over. There are no guarantees; you have heard singers better than Sabrina Carpenter, who never made it out of their local honky-tonk.
How?
We mistakenly assume our effort is correlated to the scope of our ambition.
Whatever you do, do it exceptionally, regardless of its size. Your grandparents probably told you something along the lines of “if it is worth doing, it is worth doing well.” You know in your heart when you are making a worthy effort or going through the motions. I could write a blog post in a few hours, but investing twice the time yields a better message and evidences respect for it and its recipients.
Martin Luther King famously said, “If a man is called to be a street sweeper. He should sweep streets even as Michelangelo painted, Beethoven composed music, or Shakespeare wrote poetry. He should sweep streets so well that all hosts of heaven and earth pause to say, ‘Here lives a great sweeper who did his job well.'”
Is the size of your effort commensurate with the measure of your ability?
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The Process. Consistently seek meaningful growth, add diligence, and reap meaningful accomplishments.
