It’s the first of June? I can’t believe that we are already here at the midway point of 2014. This has caused me to reflect on something that I have recently been thinking about. It is a subject that was first brought to my attention in an article that was published on ESPN, about Ervin Santana of the Atlanta Braves. The main point of the article was how Santana took less security in a one year contract with the Braves in hopes of proving that he is worth much more in the future. So far his gamble is paying off. Ervin is 5-2 for the Braves and has been a key addition to a starting rotation that is currently 2nd in ERA and 1st in quality starts.
What can we learn from this? The biggest thing that i have taken from this is the fact that we should bet on ourselves. We should have the confidence that if we work hard and do what’s right then we will come out on top more times than not. I know a lot of people my age are complaining about not finding the perfect dream job or salary upon graduation. However I challenge my peers to look beyond the first job. Find something that you can build more skills and experiences to achieve your dream job.
Personally I took the first job I was offered out of college. Was it the perfect fit? No it wasn’t. In fact when I was first offered the job I wasn’t guaranteed anything. They offered me an internship with the possibility of full time employment. I took a risk and turned down other potential jobs to see if I would be a good fit, luckily for me I was offered a full time position, July will mark one year with my current employer. I have used my time at my current job to learn about the products that we sell. I have learned lots of skills that could be applied in other jobs if I see the need to find another source of employment. I have learned a lot about what it takes to run a small business in an ultra competitive industry.
All of these things could of passed me by if I had not taken a risk and bet on myself. We all have opportunities before us. Some opportunities may be better than others, but I am a true believer in the fact that we can make the most of any opportunity we are given. We can choose to maximize the utility by having a positive attitude and a willingness to learn from others. Then as we learn from other people’s experiences we can then add our own creativity and strengths to the pot.
Remember that it is not a bad thing to have confidence in yourself. If you don’t believe in yourself then why would someone else? It’s important to help others remember this little fact as well. In today’s world it is easy to be bogged down by negativity or stereotypes. All I have to say about stereotypes is SCREW THEM! We all have different challenges and obstacles in our way, however, it is up to you to choose how you will overcome them. Once you stop placing limits on yourself thats when the impossible becomes possible! I challenge all who read this to bet on yourself and achieve your dreams!
Nunc Coepi 