Ever wonder what truly separates those who succeed (you know, the folks that really make things happen) from those who don't? Or, won't?
As I lingered on the concept of success, it occurred to me what many may believe is the key to bigtime success: blind luck. After all, if luck is important for success to happen to me, then I can keep doing the things that currently give me the mediocre results I'm getting while I wait on Luck to show it's face. I don't need to change a thing, right?
Sure, luck appears to be a factor in much of the success we see around us. If we consider some of the most visible splashes we see, then the latest American Idol, the next Internet darling or even (pardon the pun) Michael Phelps all depended on a good bit of luck for their chance at success. Right?
Last week, my and family and I were in Las Vegas seeing our favorite shows -- Cirque du Soleil and The Phantom of the Opera. Where else can we see some of the most gifted performers in the world thrill us as we soaked up the wonder of "Ka" and the magically recreated Paris Opera House?!
We didn't work and plan for months for the chance to luck out at the blackjack tables. Rather Lori, Haley and I dreamed about the opportunity to experience the fruit of the acrobats', singers', actors', and musicians' preparation to place their gifts on display. We'll be fondly re-living the memories of them for years.
During the week we also watched Phelp's marvelous Olympic performances, another result of a life (well, for 12 of his 23 years) of preparation. Sure, luck may have had something to do with his 100m butterfly win by .01 second. But wasn't a more overwhelming indicator of Michael's likely success his relentless training with his coach Bob Bowman since Phelps was 11? Bowman's self-professed training technique has been to "push him to exhaustion, then ask for something more”.
"The
secret of success in life is for a man to be ready for his time when it comes."
~ Benjamin Disraeli
We must prepare for success before the opportunity is upon us. Abraham Lincoln said it this way: "I will prepare and some day my chance will come".
For almost every Biblical character I can think of, there was a period of preparation before the action. Consider:
Moses was over 80 years old by the time God chose him to lead the Israelites to freedom.
Paul spend several years helping his father make tents in Tarsus between his conversion in Damascus and connecting with Barnabas to help him minister to the church at Antioch.
David was anointed by the prophet Samuel as a youth, but was not ready to become king until he as about 30 years of age.
Jesus was tempted by Satan for 40 long and difficult (without food) days in the desert before he began teaching in the synagogues.
Esther's experience in the king's palace prepared her to step up and save an entire nation when her opportunity arose.
Is there a secret for success? Benjamin Disraeli believes it's clear: "The
secret of success in life is for a man to be ready for his time when it comes." Some are willing, most are not. Preparation is a big part of what truly separates those that consistently succeed from those who won't.
Now, as the apostle Paul encouraged us to do, go "prepare your minds for action" (1 Peter 1:13). Be one of the few ... who will actually DO!
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