Always Believe It's Possible

Jordan and Nike

The 2023 Ben Affleck directed film, "Air," is about the origin of the groundbreaking partnership between Nike and basketball legend, Michael Jordan. Throughout the entire story, Sonny Vaccaro (played by Matt Damon) was told that Nike securing a contract with Michael Jordan was impossible. Sonny heard this from Jordan's agent, from his boss at Nike, from previous coaches of Jordan, and even from Jordan's own mother, but Vaccaro persisted. Most of us know that a contract was signed, a partnership was created, and the deal between Nike and Michael Jordan, called Air Jordan, changed the landscape of contracts between athletes and brands. Like Vaccaro, we live in a world where we are told some things are simply impossible, where the status quo is accepted by almost everyone around us. We have a tendency to flippantly say, "That's just how things are," never striving for something better, something bigger, or something more meaningful. Those who step outside of the proverbial box of limitation are ridiculed before they are revered. However, dreamers and visionaries are often just "Average Joes" who refused to play by the rules someone else created long before them.

Do It Anyway

Motivational speaker Les Brown says that, "According to the laws of aerodynamics, a bumblebee isn't supposed to be able to fly because it's puny wings shouldn't be able to hold up its large body. The bumblebee doesn't know it so he keeps on doing it anyhow." Inside every one of us is a fire that cries out to us our purpose, our passion, and our very reason for being. The sad truth is that some of us have ignored this fire and have instead listened to the external voices of the critics, the masses, and the naysayers. Some of us have even stopped believing that we have anything worth contributing to the world and now we see everything in faded shades of gray instead of the vibrant colors of hope. When we were young we dreamed big. We announced that we would play in the NFL, be astronauts, or fight fires. We believed anything was possible because we had child-like faith. We had yet to be exposed to the dream extinguishing whispers of those who had given up hope before.

Rise In Your Greatness

A few years ago I had lost hope and I had lost my way. I had allowed my own critical voice to overpower the fire within my heart. I had listened to the lies that I had nothing left to give and that I was destined to a mediocre life at best. But then something changed. Someone took a chance on me. Against all reason someone saw something in me and dared me to rise up in greatness. I can assure you that not all my choices and days have now been "great," but I am pursuing excellence. I have absolutely not been perfect, but I'm certainly better than I was yesterday. I have not conquered all of my fears, but I choose to cling to my faith. And like the bumblebee, my wings may be "puny," but I am refusing to believe I cannot find a way to fly.

Break Free From Your Past

What's holding you back? What limitations have you placed on yourself? What voices are you choosing to listen to in order to guide your next steps? Your address doesn't define you. Your past doesn't define you. You can choose to break free from the cages you have locked yourself in. I dare you to be great. I dare you to be a bee. I dare you to be the person you were created to be.

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