It isn’t unusual for people to see an opportunity or seat on a bus, and believe that it is perfect for them. How many times have you read job descriptions and thought to yourself, “I want to do that.”? I’ve met people who have had the courage to try many things and others who had a laser-like focus on a specific career.
To be honest, I somewhat envy those who have had the laser-like focus. In regard to career decisions, I can admit having thoughts similar to those of Les Brown, one of the world’s leading motivational speakers. He admits that at some points in his life, he was intelligently ignorant. He says, “I didn’t know what I couldn’t do.”
I believe people with the courage to prepare for and pursue a “seat on the bus” can be provided access through employers, staffing firms, and workforce development agencies. If someone believes they have the ability to succeed and has demonstrated success, then we should listen when they inquire about new opportunities, new seats, or development. Beyond just listening, the next step is to take the actions required to change thinking or create innovative solutions.
The pursuit of another seat would be similar to an athlete trying a new sport because they believe they have the ability to succeed in it. An example that I find interesting is the story of Otis Davis.
Otis Davis attended the University of Oregon on a basketball scholarship. For some reason, at the age of 26, he believed that he could also run track. This simple belief led him to ask the track coach for a shot at joining the track team. These are two completely different sports, and both require years of training, practice, and natural athleticism to compete at the highest levels… right?
The track coach, Bill Bowerman, believed in Davis and gave him a shot. Bowerman needed a high jumper on his team and would give Davis a chance there first; however, in Davis’s first competitive events, he was placed into the 220-yd dash and the 440-yd dash events. He won both. Even though Davis was considered a little old for his team, he earned the respect of his teammates along with the nickname “Pops”.
A basketball player who thought he could succeed in track got the access to try and he just did it. Not only did he just do it, but within three years he earned the right to participate in the 1960 Olympics even though he was still learning how to run strategically. He brought home two gold medals for the US in the individual 400 and by anchoring the 4×400.
What I heard in the story of Otis Davis was this… people can be courageous enough to leap forward into new opportunities; however, there needs to be someone on the other end willing to change and be open to providing access. Someone sought the opportunity to do something they believed they could do. They were given access along with the coaching needed to explore their potential. They were then focused into a lane that was the best fit for both them and the team.
Who is waiting on access from you?
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