Day 5
It’s not death that a man should fear, but he should fear never beginning to live.—Marcus AureliusI've thought a lot about gifts, and perhaps that's my greatest question when it comes to business and the rest of my life: why would I or anyone with such unlimited God-given potential choose to work for somebody else turning in my potential and gifts for a mediocre income and loss of time with my family?I have a hard time determining my own gifts. It seems like as children we are bolstered and brought up to believe the world of ourselves, but as adults the only time people reach out is when we do something wrong or fail to succeed. I recently worked a job where my particular skill set did not help me to perform as others... more or less I wasn't so great at using a sledge hammer to pound rebar into flat ground. Go figure. Other guys would taunt me with their strength and my boss would give me a hard time, all the time I was thinking "Sure they can pound rebar, but that's all they've chosen to salute themselves for. Why would that be their grand accomplishment?" I mean think about it! All their lives they've focused on being stronger and better when they literally could have had any job indoors, helping others and making so much more income! And if that's what they wanted then that's great! Be the best rebar pounders on earth, but the incessant taunting drove me to wonder if these men had anything greater that they wanted to achieve in their lives other than back-pain and un-paid bills. As prideful as I am for thinking myself better, what I really thought, was that my mindset was better. And not because of me, but because I had learned from some of the greats the mindset we need to develop if we wish to make anything of ourselves.The dirty job was a vehicle, a Segway helping me to get back on track and out of the literal mud and grime to make something better of myself and to pull those with me up and out. I want to find an outlet, some way I can make a great job for others to help them climb out and enjoy life. Well, here's to big dreams and small steps. I hope you all are doing what you dream of. May you find your path. I'm looking for mine.
