Talent Vs. Persistence

Talented people impress me.  When I see evidence of raw talent I want to stand up and cheer.  I think of all of the potential that individual has at his/her fingertips and wonder what he/she might become.

But alas, talent fades away and others can pass you by if all you do is rely on your simple raw talent. 

How sad. 

John C. Maxwell once said … “I realized early on in life that I could coast along and do some pretty amazing things because of some innate giftedness.” 

Thankfully our story does not end there.  John went on to say that he realized the folly of that mindset and then set about becoming an on-purpose and intentional young man, and the world is better for that awareness.

You see, raw talent doesn’t keep its sharp edge without practice and persistence. 

Note this:

“If I miss one day of practice, I notice it.  If I miss two days, the critics notice it.  If I miss three days, the audience notices it.” 

Ignacy Paderewski

Even the greats practice and that is what keeps them great.  If you start resting on your past successes, the world will soon catch up with you and pass you by. 

The persistence of practice and honing your craft is everything. 

Love this Steve Martin comment from Born Standing Up:  A Comic’s Life.

“Thankfully, persistence is a great 

substitute for talent.” 

P Michael Biggs

Offering Hope

Encouragement Inspiration

One Word at a Time

P.S. Beginning Monday, Dec. 3 I'll start posting Christmas blogs.  I have a lot of new ones for this year and am anxious to share them.  A different one will post on each of my blog sites.  I'll post every Monday and Friday.  

Thank you for  being a loyal reader.  Almost every week I pick up a new country of readers - this week it has been Malta and Hong Kong.  

In Your Imagination

There is a lot of talk these days about movies of the mind.  Olympic athletes are some of the best at practicing this, for it is proven to work time and again.

Denis Waitley, super star in the motivational and inspirational speaking world once served on the Sports Medicine Council for the Olympics, and he has written about this important concept.

Denis says …

In your imagination you never miss.

When we pre-play and re-play our event in our minds eye we do it perfectly.  And as we perform in our mind, our synapses fire as if we were actually doing the task at hand. 

This works for all kinds of performances:

Skiers

Baseball players

Soccer goalies

Speech givers

Attorneys in court

Employees asking for a raise

Ping pong champions

Musicians

Everyone can benefit from this principle.

I worked with a minister in a church once and he could often be heard early on Sunday mornings rehearsing his sermon in a small room near the sanctuary. 

Mental rehearsal works. 

Simply put – it boils down to this:

Perfect Practice Makes Perfect

P Michael Biggs

Offering Hope

Encouragement Inspiration

One Word at a Time

P.S. Christmas themed blogs begin on Monday, Dec. 3.  I'll be posting on Monday and Friday and each one for each of my blog sites will be different.  Thanks for tuning in - read as many as you wish - share them - be  blessed this Christmas season.

The Sound of Your Voice

Having grown up in a large musical family I began my singing career at age three.  And it grew from there.

For many years I always felt insecure about my voice, however.  Early on, in my adult life, I had intonation issues – I would sing flat. 

And I loved to compare myself to others and always seemed to come up on the short end in those comparisons. 

Only in later life did I realize my voice was acceptable - actually more than acceptable and people truly did enjoy hearing me sing.

  

Liking the sound of your voice is not just about music.  Can you voice your thoughts, feelings, opinions and values?  You have a voice.  Use it.  Vote in elections.  Your thoughts matter just as much as others.  You have as much of a right to express yourself as anyone else.

P Michael Biggs

Offering Hope

Encouragement Inspiration

One Word at a Time

Hang the Picture

Pictures are made to be hung on walls, not kept in closets or under the bed. 

Have you painted a picture?  Hang it.

Do you have an idea that is valid and useful?  Launch it?

Do you have a book idea burning inside of you?  Write it.

Do you have a retail store idea?  Open it.

Pictures, ideas, books and all other successful enterprises demand, yea deserve to be hung, launched, opened and presented to the world.

Otherwise, how will you ever know if someone will appreciate it, buy it, visit it, read it, or have a life-changing experience because of something you dared present to the world? 

Sometimes we just have to hang the picture.

P Michael Biggs

Offering Hope

Encouragement Inspiration

One Word at a Time

Thoughts on Thanksgiving Day

As you gather with family and friends, may the spirit of kindness and good memories flood your mind.

As you look at each other, reflect on a great memory of when and how that person has made you happy in days gone by.

As you gaze upon your kids and grandkids, picture their future and the positive qualities you desire for each one, and say a prayer for their growth toward maturity.

As you travel toward your destination, thank God for the privilege of knowing, loving and being loved by each person you will see.

At the end of the day, pause and thank God for the life you’ve been given, the people you are blessed to know, those who love you, and the memories of a lifetime that are a gift that keeps on giving.

Happy Thanksgiving

P Michael Biggs

Offering Hope

Encouragement Inspiration

One Word at a Time

P.S.  I will resume posting on Friday, November 23.  Enjoy your special time with your friends, family and whatever Thanksgiving traditions you cherish.

Seeing Yourself

Seeing Yourself

October 22, 2012

Self-image is such a critical concept and I like writing about it.  Earl Nightingale’s famous quote “You become what you think about” is the essence of this thought.  So many other thought leaders have expressed the same idea using their own words, and it is still valid.

Holding onto ourselves and owning our own image of ourselves is a critical concept. 

This cartoon is more than cute – it is masterfully profound. 

What goes on in my mind’s eye matters more than what anyone else may think or say about me.

Be your own best friend – hold a worthy idea of you, your principles and your ability to do good work, think good thoughts, and make whatever changes might become necessary each day that you live.

  

And if ... as depicted in this cartoon, you are past your ability to physically 'do', then hold tenaciously to the memory of 'when' and 'what' your dream was once upon a time.

Keeping the dream alive sometimes keeps us alive.

P Michael Biggs

Offering Hope

Encouragement Inspiration

One Word at a Time

The Tyranny of Later

The word “later” is a dream killer. 

I’ll diet later

I’ll get a job later

I’ll write that book later

I’ll call later

I’ll fix that lock later

I Will Act Now is the title of the Scroll Marked IX in Og Mandino’s classic book The Greatest Salesman in the World.

Here is a brief excerpt.

“Success will not wait.  If I delay she will become betrothed to another and lost to me forever.  This is the time.  This is the place.  I am the man. 

“I will act now.”

Keep the tyranny of “later” at bay.  Become a person of action.

P Michael Biggs

Offering Hope

Encouragement Inspiration

One Word at a Time

Selling Love

Repeat customers are becoming a rarity these days.  Name almost any product or service and you can find dozens, even hundreds of persons and companies offering the same deal.

But do they sell love?  Do they show “care” and “concern” and do they offer the genuine human touch in the deal?

My wife has a waiting list for piano students.  In an area as large as Seattle there must be several thousand competent piano teachers.  Want to know why she is so popular?  She loves her students and their parents, and they know they are loved. 

She asks questions about their day, about their family vacation, about the sick brother, about the husband’s job and a thousand other subjects.  She has become an ally and a trusted confidant.  She loves.

Selling this kind of love is legal all around the world.

P Michael Biggs

Offering Hope

Encouragement Inspiration

One Word at a Time

Belong

Have you ever belonged? 

Everyone wants to belong – to something or someone.  We want to fit in, to be liked, to be trusted, and to be special.

We want to belong

We want to know that we matter more than any policy, any gimmick, any philosophy, and any ideology.

We want to know that we can trust others, and when we do trust, that becomes the moment when we allow your “stuff” into our lives. 

How can you help us belong?

Be truthful

Be genuine

Be full of integrity

Be attentive

Be real – true blue.

Become a safe place, a safe person, or a safe company.

Be authentic.

P Michael Biggs

Offering Hope

Encouragement Inspiration

One Word at a Time