I love Spring. Do you love Spring? I love Spring so much I want to marry it.
Spring is full of newness, freshness, growth, hope, renewed energy, and a bit more sunshine. Plus, my favorite color is green. Not dark green, pea green, or army green, but the kind of green you see in the spring. It’s pure, happy, and bursting with vibrancy. I usually say my favorite color is lime green, but it’s really not. It’s Spring Green.
My favorite people (and companies) are just like Spring. They’re full of newness, freshness, growth, hope, energy, and a bit more sunshine than most.
These kind of people and companies don’t just happen, though. Oh, we pretend that they’re just born that way and it’s easy for them. After all, they just have a naturally sunny disposition. They have natural ability. God gave them more talent, positivity, optimism, money, friends, customers, or good PR than he gave us. Or even worse, we think they’re just lucky.
Not true, my friend. Don’t get me wrong, there are people that have a bucket-o-talent that truly runneth over. But even that kind of abundant talent without application is worthless.
The real truth is that successful people get up every day and — instead of doing what they want to do — do what needs to be done to create the kind of culture, company, family, friends, circumstance, and success that they desire.
A shorter way to say it is that they WORK AT IT.
I’m a Brad Pitt fan. The dude has talent. Unnatural talent. In fact, he might be an alien. He’s one of those people that keeps it fresh, keeps it new, keeps growing, and adds a bit more sunshine to the world. But if you think Brad doesn’t work hard to maximize his God-given talent, you’re delusional. He doesn’t just waltz onto a movie set and say “Ok, I’m here, what are my lines?” He also doesn’t let his celebrity and money go to waste, he puts it to use to help people who are struggling and suffering.
You see, people like Brad Pitt work hard to make the world — not just their world, but everyone’s world — a better place to live, work, and do business. They don’t wait for others to do it for them. They do it themselves. They get up every day and do what needs to be done. They work hard to be amazing at what they do, and it shows.
You might be saying to yourself, “Yeah, but he’s rich and famous.” Sorry, I won’t accept that for an answer.
SIDEBAR: I know some people are still upset that Brad left Jennifer for Angelina. Believe me, I’m not condoning that part of his life. I’m a death-til-you-part kind of guy. But are you really going to hold a grudge for a decade against somebody you really don’t know? That’s kind of silly, don’t you think? END OF SIDEBAR
So, are you going to work like Brad Pitt?
Are you going to maximize your talents & resources to create the kind of team, company, and life that creates Spring-like energy? Are you going to create the kind of environment that is full of newness, freshness, growth, and a bit more sunshine than most?
Don’t know where to start? Here are a few ideas:
1. Identify what you really want. Most of us tend to think more about what we DON’T want than what we DO want. So, what would your ideal workplace, team, company, family, life, etc. look like? Don’t shortchange this question. It could be one of the best questions you ever ask yourself.
2. Start owning your God-given talents & resources. I tend not to believe people when they say they don’t know what their talents are. You know. There are things you’re naturally good at or enjoy more than others. Some people are amazing teachers, some are amazing engineers, some are magicians, some are care-givers. You’ve got specific talents within you. It’s ok to admit it. If you really don’t know ask your friends, they’ll tell you.
3. Challenge yourself with this question: “How can I use my talents to make my job, my family, my life, or the world better…right where I am?“
4. Do something with your talent. Don’t just think about it. Don’t take six months to create a strategic plan for it. Get up tomorrow and use your talent to make something better. Sometimes all you can do is work on developing your talent or your craft (it’s called practice). That’s ok. In fact, it’s necessary.
One of my talents is helping you be more amazing at what you do, and helping you realize that you have the power to create the kind of work and life you really want. It’s why I got up today and wrote this article. It’s why I give keynote speeches and deliver workshops like The Secrets of Greener Grass (see below). It’s why I launched sparkspace, the most inspirational business retreat center on the planet over 12 years ago.
And there is so much more I can do with my talents and resources, so I’m not just challenging you with this article. I’m challenging myself, too.
I’m going to push you a little more here. I’ve admitted some of my talents to you, so what are yours? How are you going to start creating that “Spring-like” vibe right where you are by using your talents? How are you going to “work like Brad Pitt” to maximize what your Creator gave you for the power of good?
Post a comment below!
And I’ll put some skin in the game as well. If I can help you in any way, let me know. I’m happy to answer questions, offer additional insight, or even do a little “email brainstorming” with you. Let’s do what needs to be done together!