I saw this on Sports Center this morning and I couldn’t agree more with this Coach. This generation of kids “want” so much but are unwilling to put the work into what they say they “want”. Everybody wants the shortcut, everybody wants the results but without all that crazy “work” that is required. It starts from the top down, parents leading from the front and teaching our kids that yes, they can be whatever they want, but there is usually a ton of hard work associated with most of the things that they will grow up wanting.
I think one of the reasons kids are starting to grow up thinking like this, always looking for the easy way out, is because they are afraid of being different. Unfortunately, anyone that wants to pursue something that seems extraordinary, the steps to get there will be very different from what your friends are doing. While your friends are out partying or at the beach during the summer, you will have two options:
- Spend your time alone, doing everything necessary to achieve what it is that YOU want.
- Decide that you don’t really want it and join your friends at the beach or at the party and be that person that tells their friends, “I was going to do that but ……(insert lame excuse that no one cares about here). “
This scene is so true. Your first instinct when someone talks about doing something that you personally couldn’t do is to tell them they can’t do it. I am not sure at what point this became acceptable but we all do it, and most of the time, we don’t even realize the effect it has on those around us. Think about it. When was the last time someone told you about an idea they had? What was your response to it? I think many times the person asking for advice about what it is they want is looking for the easy way out because they know you are going to tell them it is a dumb idea. They expect those around them, that supposedly are their friends, will most likely not support that decision and they can use that as their “out”. I wonder what would happen if the next time someone approached us with an idea, we were supportive and urged them to take that leap and pursue it. What would happen then? Would they be happy? Or would you end up being jealous or envious that they had the courage to try to chase their dreams and you never have?