Pressure Is a Privilege February 2008
By Jan Sparrow
“Instead of thinking how great I’ve got it I think about how much more work I have ahead of me and how much more practicing I need to do to become a better at what I do.”
Kenny G, Grammy award winning saxophonist 2008
As we evolve our Greatness Project through on-going research and coaching individuals around the world we continue to learn that the work of great individuals is never complete. There is the encouraging awareness that there is more to learn and more to do. Skilled individuals, like a Kenny G and others are constantly striving to do what they do even better. And, not surprisingly, driven by success rather than by fear of failure they are willing to attempt new enterprises in the quest of finding the one thing that will make the difference in their lives and the lives of others.
Think Brad Pitt (Make It Right Foundation), Nicholas Negroponte (One Laptop Per Child), Jack Sim (World Toilet Organization), Wendy Kopp (Teach for America), or Zainab Salbi (Women for Women) to mention only a very few individuals willing trying to change the world for the better. I am sure you can think of many other social entrepreneurs who are using their talents to leave the world a better place than they found it. Are you among those individuals who continue the quest to do more with the skills, talents and abilities that you are blessed to possess?
It certainly takes a good deal of courage and curiosity about what is possible to reflect on how you can achieve greatness for yourself and others. We are rarely surprised anymore when seemingly average performers get defensive as we suggest new ways for them to become better at their craft. Often they tell us they don’t really need to learn anything new because they have it “all figured out” or they are “good enough.” And yet, I often think of a text message from Billy Jean King to Maria Sharapova prior to her finals match at the 2008 Australian Open “ champions take chances and pressure is a privilege.”
What chances are you taking in your desire to achieve greatness? Do you enjoy pressure or do you try to avoid it? In their new book “The Power of Unreasonable People: How Social Entrepreneurs Create Markets that Change the World” by John Elkington et al, the authors suggest that individuals who are achieving great things for themselves or others are never satisfied. Once a project is up and running they look for the next idea to continue to make the world around them better place. Are you satisfied with your place in the universe or are you a champion that loves the pressure of trying to achieve your life goals in different and perhaps better ways? Are you challenging yourself to become even more than even you thought possible? What is the pressure you are willing to withstand to create a world where everyone has an equal opportunity to become great? So, our final question to you is this “what one small change might you undertake that can create the greatest impact on you and/or the world?” Good luck.
The Greatness ProjectTM is researched and written by:
Scott Asalone & Jan Sparrow
Copyright © ASGMC, Inc. 2008