Tis the season for most of us to list our New Year's Resolutions. Yet, despite making a list, most of us will quickly fall back into our comfort zone and continue to head down the same path we're heading down. Maybe it's a good path. Maybe we feel success, happiness, and a sense of belonging that causes us to not want to change direction. Maybe we're simply comfortable with the familiar and unwilling to challenge the status-quo.
I'm not a perfect husband, father, leader, or human being. That said, I do know that I'm a believer in the famous Wayne Gretzky Quote, "You miss 100% of the shots you don't take." I recently decided to enter a radio-show contest on a NYC radio station that millions of people listen to. I knew there was literally a one-in-a-million chance that I might win... Nevertheless, I entered the contest. A few weeks later, the morning-show host called my cell phone and put me live on the air! I WON! In my book, I write how I believe that good things happen to good people. But do I believe I was the BEST person deserving to win this contest? Of course not! However, I do believe that you'll miss 100% of the shots you do not take!
My son received an opportunity to apply for an art scholarship for college next year. When I approach him about it, his initial reaction was, "Dad, do you know how many people are applying for that scholarship? There is no way I will win it!" I had to remind him how I had just won a contest that millions of people had entered. The decision to NOT try means you will never win. My advice.. Decide to OPT IN. Try. What do you have to lose?