Postcards from the Funny Farm

When I was in high school, I ran track and field. My coach would always tell us that runners with commitment were more important than those with talent. For example, I recall one runner who for four years constantly took first place. He was valuable, but he was a flake and his senior year he started doing drugs and the coaches decided they were really disillusioned with the guy. It’s a shame when talent gets sacrificed at the altar of laziness.

I can relate with the idea of talent with laziness, that’s something I try to avoid. I had talent on the guitar at an early age. My dad was a teacher so he taught me all he knew and some other men in my family played and they showed me what they knew as well. By the time I was in 4th grade I was singing Kenny Rogers’ “Coward of the County” for the fourth grade talent show. It was a fun childhood holding a guitar and I got a lot of attention, but I look back often wishing I would have been more serious about my lessons. I quit them earlier and was self taught ever since. This applies to many aspects of my life and yours. There may have been something in your life that you took for granted like I did guitar. Like the tortoise and the hare, slow and steady wins the race -or- committment takes it all.

I’ve seen amazing talent in the keeping life simple. It’s a good idea to try just one thing at a time. Make that your commitment. making money online. Your enjoyment can enhance the art/product/whatever it is.

As I get closer to my 40’s I see the wisdom of my high school coach. The great people I have known throughout my life have always been striving and creating the next thing. They never rest on their haunches, like Walt Disney said they always “keep moving forward.”

There is nothing worse than a talent gone complacent like old rotten teak furniture. Are you parked in some area of your life? Break away from your comfort zone and keep moving forward. Go the extra mile … life is short. The result of your reaching out of the comfort zone will be: innovation and creativity like you never imagined.