SerenDestiny #74: Did You Listen to the Believers or Nay-sayers? Did You Act on Your Talent – or Set It Aside

“I am who I am because you believed in me.” – Ulysses S. Grant

In this fascinating article in USA Today, journalist Jeff Zillgitt reports that several Hall of Fame players from the NBA (i.e., Bill Russell, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar) share their opinion that Lebron James is a player they admire and appreciate.

In fact, Russell said, “What I think about him is what I used to tell Wilt Chamberlain. I told him, ‘I think I’m the only guy on the planet who really knows how good you are because I’ve seen you up close.'”

You may know that Lebron was on the cover of Sports Illustrated with the headline The Chosen One … when he was a junior in high school.

Here are just a few of his other impressive stats:
* 9 time All-Star
* Player of the Week 43 times
* 1st player to average 26 points, 8 rebounds, 7 assists and shoot 56% from the field

Lebron James

So, what’s the point?

Well, first, congrats to Lebron.

Second, I love it when peers speak up about their respect for a colleague’s talent.

You know what I’ve discovered about many SerenDestineers?

Early in their life, they were fortunate to have people point out their talent.

Sometimes it was a teacher. Sometimes a coach. Someone who was close and SAW their talent. Someone who believed in them and took the time to say, “You’re good at this. You ought to pursue it.”

And these budding SerenDestineers listened.

They took this favorable feedback to heart and owned and acted on their talent.

They put in the hard work. They developed that talent and turned it into a pro-passion (half profession-half passion) where they now get paid to do what they love most and do best.

How about you?

Did you have a skill growing up you were good at? A talent that put the light on in your eyes?

Were you lucky enough to have believers around you who pointed it out and complimented you on it?

Did you take that feedback to heart? Did you own and act on your talent?

If so, has it led to you being in a state of SerenDestiny where you’re getting paid to do what puts the light on in your eyes?

Or, did the significant others in your life tell you, “That’s a nice hobby, but you’ll never make a living at it.”

Did they say, “I know you like to act, play ball, sing, dance, draw, (or whatever); but you’re not good enough to make the pro’s, play for the college team, make it in on Broadway, turn it into a career.”

Did you listen to those nay-sayers? Did you let someone steal your dream? Did you let those skeptics talk you out of pursuing what you loved to do?

Maybe they thought they were looking out for you. Maybe they genuinely thought they had your best interests at heart.

Regardless of their intentions, abandoning what you’re good at, putting aside a talent that once lit you up, can end in regrets. You may be filled with “What if’s?”

So, how old are you?

Are you still young, still trying to decide what you want to do with the rest of your life?

Are you mid-career and there’s still time to consider transitioning into work that could be more meaningful, that would give you an opportunity to use those latent talents?

Are you towards the end of your career and thinking about retirement?

Whatever stage of life-work you’re at; ask yourself the following questions.

1. What skill or talent did I have growing up? What lit me up?

2. What is something I was good at that people admired or complimented me on?

3. Am I still actively involved in that?

4. If so, is it rewarding? Does it bring me joy? Does it feel good to do what I’m good at?

5 If no, do I miss it? Would I like to get involved in that again? Is that feasible?

6. If I would like to bring that talent or skill back into my life, how am I going to do it? Who can I contact; what is one step I can take to get involved in what lights me up … this month?

I know you’re busy, and I’d love to hear your feedback about this.

Did you listen to the believers or the nay-sayers? Did you act on your talent – or put it aside?

Please take a few minutes to share your story. I’m eager to hear it, and I know others will benefit from hearing your experience … the good, the bad, the “I wish I had …”

SerenDestiny® #62: How Do You Get Through the Desert of Your Dream?

“I didn’t think I would play tennis again at one point. I just wanted to make it out of the hospital.” – Wimbledon Champ Serena Williams

From Liz Clarke’s July 8th Washington Post article, “After winning her fifth Wimbledon championship to snap a two-year drought of major titles, Williams clambered up the Centre Court stands to her guest box to share the triumph with the loved ones she said made it possible.

Having missed nearly a year of competition after a series of setbacks that included two foot surgeries and a pulmonary embolism, Williams proved that she is still the most formidable player in women’s tennis.

What’s different is Williams’ appreciation that she could not have done it alone. “Those people in that box were all with me when I went through everything I went through. I just felt I don’t say ‘thank you’ enough.'”

It has been inspiring watching Serena come back from what she thought were career-ending injuries.

The path to our SerenDestiny® is rarely straight.

It’s more of a roller-coaster ride. Ups and downs. Highs and lows.

What keeps us going in those lows?

A team who has our back and front, certainly.

Another necessary ingredient is our ability to continue to SEE ourselves successfully achieving our dream … even when it is not apparent to others.

It is crucial to maintain clarity and conviction that what we’re pursuing is worthwhile … even when we’re stalled and it looks like it may never happen.

It is persevering when we’re in the desert of our dream that provides the impetus to keep moving toward it.

Because forward motion is a non-negotiable.

If you stop. if you give up and abandon your vision … it will not happen.

So, it is up to you to hang on to your belief that what you’re trying to create and accomplish is possible and worthwhile.

If you do, you give it a chance. You are doing your half.

And when you do your half, the universe steps up and does its half.

Soren Kierkegaard said, “Life can only be understood backwards; but must be lived forwards.”

There will always be setbacks along the way to our SerenDestiny. It is the nature of life. And, at the time, those obstacles may seem insurmountable. They may drain our will and cause us to doubt.

It is at that point, that we must transcend our doubts and summon our will to proceed. If we choose to carry on through our doubts and down times, we can re-establish momentum and move closer to realizing our dream.

I can only imagine that Serena was tempted to give up when she was in pain, when she had to go back for surgery, when she lost her mobility.

But Serena wasn’t finished.

She believed she still had greatness in her, she still had championships to win.

So, she re-dedicated herself. She worked hard and re-committed to being and doing her best.

And, as a result of persevering through the desert of her dream, she has reached a blessed, rewarding oasis.

And the beauty of this is; it is not a mirage; it’s a well-earned reality.

How about you?

Are you in the desert of your SerenDestiny® dream?

Could you choose to “pull a Serena?”

Could you re-dedicate yourself?

Your dream is still a possibility … if you choose to keep it a possibility.