Want To Isn’t Enough
This year's Global Leadership Summit was amazing. I loved spending time with my friends, and I soaked up the wisdom from many awesome talks. There was one other difference, too. This was the first year in quite a while that I didn't carry a tinge of jealousy toward the speakers on that stage. See, for more than a decade, I've dreamed of one day being on that stage, delivering a talk in front of nearly a half-million people.
Something happened this past year, though. Despite wanting that more than anything, I've realized that I'm not willing to do what it will take to reach that level. The work, dedication, and sacrifice to become a world-class speaker are too great considering some of my other values, dreams, and callings. I mourned that loss for a while, but ultimately, I made peace with it.
It's one thing to want something, but something entirely different to be willing to make it happen. It's an unreasonable wish to want something that we're not willing to earn. Therefore, I can't be jealous. I have no right to be jealous. They put in the work, paid the dues, and made the appropriate sacrifices; I didn't. I do believe there's a world where I could get there, but again, that world would be incongruent with my other values, dreams, and callings.
I still love speaking. I have a handful of professional speaking gigs on the calendar for the coming months, and I'll be tremendously grateful for each. However, I'm trying to do it in a way that aligns with my other values, dreams, and callings. That's where I hope to find my contentment.
I think it's important that we put both sides of the equation on the table. In one hand, place our hopes, dreams, and aspirations. In the other hand, place the work, discipline, and cost that it would take to achieve those things. Are you willing to do what it takes? If so, just do it! If not, admit it. Be willing to acknowledge the reality of your choices, then make peace with it. It makes a big difference!
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