6 Lessons for Life
I woke up Saturday morning in Newport News, Virginia, looked out the hotel window and all I could see was snow. I called the airport and heard the news no traveler wants to hear. The airport was shut down. I was set to speak to Lia Sophia Jewelry that morning at the hotel where I was staying and that night I was scheduled to be at an event in New York City. I knew one thing in that moment. If I was going to get to NY I wouldn't be flying there. And most likely I would be stranded for a few days in Virginia. I decided to make the best of it and focus on inspiring, serving and impacting those in the audience.
As fate would have it, the President of Lia Sophia, Tory Kiam, was attending my talk and was also heading to NY. When I walked off stage I was told he arranged for a taxi to take us to Washington DC where we would take a train to NY. Sounded like a great plan, Except for the fact that to get to the train station we would have to travel 182 miles through a snow storm on icy, snow covered roads and avoid getting stuck or into an accident along the way. It was an experience I will never forget!
Here are 6 Lessons I learned along the way. I hope they will help you on your journey through life.
1. The Right Driver Means Everything - Samud, the taxi driver, was amazing. He avoided ten accidents, handled ice patches with the driving skill of NASCAR's Jimmy Johnson, and stayed calm the entire time. Leadership is everything and the right leader is the difference between cruising past or crashing into the obstacles before us. Samud never doubted that we would get through the storm to reach our destination and his skill and confidence made it possible.
2. Every Driver Needs a Great Team - There were times when Samud couldn’t see and Tory and I would guide him by looking out the sides of the van. We were his co-pilots and advised him when to slow down, when to avoid other cars, and when to speed up the windshield wipers which were accumulating ice. We couldn't have reached our destination without Samud and he couldn't have done it without us. Teamwork made all the difference.
3. Tap into the Ultimate GPS - When you are driving on sheet of snow and ice you come face to face with the reality that no matter how confident and talented you are there is a lot you can't control. So you bet I prayed a lot and tapped into the ultimate GPS, God's Positioning System, and asked God to guide us safely on our journey.
4. Drive with Optimism - Tory kept laughing at me because every hour I would say the roads would get better the closer we got to DC. The first few hours the roads got worse. But sure enough as we approached DC the roads were plowed and smooth. I didn't know if the roads really would be better but I hoped they would be better. And that hope kept our spirits up when it seemed like we would never make it. Faith in a positive future keeps you moving in the right direction and helps you reach your destination.
5. It Could be Worse - Along the way instead of focusing on our predicament I kept thinking about the people in Haiti. Our situation was a walk in the park compared to what they are going through. Keeping things in perspective helps you stay positive through your challenges and keeps you humble and grateful.
6. Showing up Matters - I arrived at the event in NY with an hour left. It was a fundraiser for the George Boiardi Foundation. George died in 2004 when a ball hit him in the chest during a lacrosse game at Cornell University. George was known for his character, persistence, heart, work ethic and his plans to join Teach America after graduation. George's life was cut short but his dream lives on through his foundation. When I arrived I met his mom. We hugged and she thanked me for making the effort to be there. I couldn't help but think that if George was in my shoes he would do the same. He showed up on and off the field every day of his short life and his legacy lives on through so many people impacted by his example. So, no matter how long the journey I want to encourage you to "show up." Whatever it takes, show up. Whether it’s by plane, train or automobile, or all three, show up.
-Jon
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