Your Beacon That Beckons

Tom Ward shares a story about when his coach asked him a question which sports he would play in high school.  The response from the coach surprised Tom, but in the end taught Tom a lesson about pursuing your personal mission.

Transcript

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Welcome to the Power of Living by Design podcast. My name is Tom Ward. In each episode, I'll be bringing you a story, an experience, something that might help you gain insight how you can make the choice to live by design. Let's get on to the story. Your beacon that beckons. One day before my first year in high school, I was playing a rare round of golf with Coach Carden, my junior high school football and track coach through eighth grade. Prior to my ninth grade year of school and sports, Coach Carden received the opportunity to become the high school track coach in our hometown of Tullahoma. As we stood on the seventh T box, waiting for a group of players in front of us to clear the fairway, Coach asked me what sports I intended to play in high school. I told him that I wanted to try out for the basketball team. Coach agreed since at that point basketball was my best sport. Then, hesitantly I said and I guess I'll run track for you. Coach smiled and looked at me and said, Ward, why do you want to do that? I was surprised. I had said I'd run track for him because I thought he'd want me to be a part of his team. Coach then said Tommy, if I were you, I'd play basketball and golf. Let's face it, you ain't too swoof. We both laughed, but coach's advice was really right on. The two sports I always enjoyed, not just playing but practicing were basketball and golf. I began playing basketball in the third grade. Dad built me a cantilevered basketball goal in the driveway when we moved out on the hill. He even painted a foul line and arch above the foul line once the driveway was paved, so I would know the distance I was shooting. I can't ever remember mom or dad ever telling me I needed to go practice basketball. But I can remember spending hours and hours developing my shooting skills at that basket. Coach Carden's advice was to play the sports I was skilled in and the sports I was passionate about and loved to play. The same advice goes for what work we pursue in life. Think about it. How did I develop the shooting skills that made basketball one of my favorite sports? I spent time shooting baskets in the driveway. Mom and dad didn't have to push me to spend time shooting. It was more like the basketball goal pulled me out there. And since I invested the time in shooting, I got better and better. In order to invest the time it takes to develop your skills for your career or life pursuits, it really helps to enjoy what you're doing. Time flows as you enjoy what you're doing. That's why, when considering the choice of your personal mission, you consider two things. One, what are my unique skills and talents? And two, what am I passionate about? The intersection or overlap of these two lists is called your sweet spot. Your personal mission, an element of the successful life systems design model, emerges from your sweet spot and how you enjoy expressing the skills and talents in your sweet spot. Putting these together helps to develop your personal mission, your pathway of your personal purpose. Last week, I read a passage submitted by Adam Robinson from Timothy Ferris' book Tribe of Mentors. Robinson reflected If I realize my focus is off, and certainly when I'm experiencing any negative emotions, I ask myself where should my attention be right now? Almost always my answer is my mission, which is like a beacon that always beckons. Coach Carden was helping me understand the importance of having a beacon that always beckons, the importance of having a personal mission. So it seems on the golf course that day so many years ago, Coach Carden wasn't just coaching me about which sports to play in high school. He was really teaching me about living by design. That's our story for today. I hope it helps you make the choice to live by design. Have a terrific day.