This week, I came across a great podcast between high-performance psychologist Michael Gervais and Seattle Seahawks receiver Tyler Lockett. In it, Lockett is promoting his new poetry book that was published this year.
Towards the end of the podcast, Lockett preaches one of his poems, “how bad do you want it?”, stemming from a story of his rookie year on the Seahawks.
“If opportunity knocked, would you answer before you said ‘Who is it?’
Or would you look through the window in the peek hole, open the door, opportunity’s gone and you missed it?
If you were the only one who believed in your dream, would you still chase it?
Or are you one of those people who hangs out with those ones that shoot down your dreams and you just sit there and take it?
And you give up and say you’re not gonna make it?
How bad do you really want it?
If the person right next to you had your success in his hands to get you to where you wanted to be in life, would you ask him?
Or would you stand there, close your mouth, wave at him, and just let him walk past you?
How bad do you really want it?”
Lockett’s words are introspective.
Am I taking advantage of opportunities given to me? Am I listening to the Universe telling me what to do? Am I hanging around people that will help me accomplish my dreams?
I don’t know the answers to these questions. But it’s a good one to ponder, as we look to close out 2019 on a strong note.
As we know, everything has a price to be paid.
The question is whether or not we’re willing to pay it.
So, let me ask you – how bad do you really want it?
Weekly Six-Pack
Here are the 6 things to check out this week:
- In his groundbreaking book, War of Art, Steven Pressfield writes about how Resistance tries to stop us from doing just about anything that makes us a better person. I wrote about that obstacle here. Show some love!
- I was fortunate enough to help my alma mater, Stonehill College, send a bright group of students to the Bay Area for a week-long “externship” program. Here is a great highlight video from the experience.
- I really dug Shanee Ben-Zur’s article on the 5 hard things people don’t tell you about being a manager. In my first year in management, I’ve felt all five.
- Pair that with Tim Ferris’ recent interview with Ben Horowitz. Horowitz is a leadership legend and I’m pumped to check out his new book, “What You Do Is Who You Are.”
- This piece about obsession from Kobe Bryant will get you ready to run through a wall. “I will choose whether or not your goals for the upcoming season compromise where I want to be in 20 years. If they don’t happy hunting for you. But if they do…I will hunt you obsessively. It’s only natural.”
- This video is a feel-good story about an 8-year-old golfer born with a disability that perfected the one-armed swing.
Quote of the Week
“The more one meditates upon good thoughts, the better will be one’s world and the world at large.”
– Confucius
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