I sat loosely on the long dark brown wooden bench with another martial arts black belt carefully studying the methods of movement created by other students at different lower ranks. It’s not a hidden tale, if there’s going to be an injury, it’s going to come from those barely beyond green belt status…so I stop to view their habits by way of learning what to expect if we should meet in the ring—if wild kicks and punches tend to be their way of pushing away…its ultimately up to me to decide if there’s going to be an inside game.
That’s the way I think, live and breathe…I waste a tremendous amount of time preparing for a future that may never arrive.
The other black belt felt a need to vocally discuss his awareness of our class not be led by the only person who has the full right to wrap or unwrap that chunk of cloth around our waist, “If Sa bum nim isn’t here I’m going home. There’s no one else that can teach me.”
Taking my eyes off the lower belts and placing them on his level of lessons learned, the next step forward no longer had to do with my reasons for arriving early—I instantly tuned into his conversation, it seemed incredibly important to him that there would be no success in his life if the one who teaches isn’t available to share.
“There are six black belts and five Poom’s (black belts under the age of 13) in this room…” I casually replied to his openness. “The greatest thing any student can hold is the opportunity to locate texture. With the Master out, this says tonight is going to be a true testament of faith based on lessons already taught. You might physically learn a different more useful way to better protect your rib cage. Each student in this room is a master of one thing and for you to decide not to listen might actually be the one key in the invisible puzzle you need to master.”
“Yeah but I want to learn new things…I’m tired of doing the same old thing.”
How could I be shocked by his response? Being a Broadcast Instructor since 1989 has put me in front of hundreds of dreamers who want it now. That’s like walking up to local singer/songwriter full time musician Eddie Zimmerman and telling him, “I’ve never played the guitar before but give me ten minutes and I’ll be bigger than Metallica and Bon Jovi combined. Eddie wouldn't waste a second with a reaction...he'd get back to the music leaving you with enough space to reinvent your dreams.
Nothing inspires me more than watching the blue flames of a fire inspired by a rocking desire to break out and do something on your own. I love connecting with an energy level based on dreams becoming reality while making room for followers to feast on the making of the paths you keep creating. I love watching others grow into success! There’s tremendous pleasure in the eyes they share until the day arrives when someone becomes disgruntled and claims, “I can’t do it today because I’m not in the mood or Sa Bum Nim is my only teacher.”
Look at the chapters you’ve created and tell me the greatest moments were generated by the one chosen to lead. I’ve had nearly 28 different program directors during my thirty years in this constantly changing biz…three of them made a difference while the others pushed pens and numbers bettering the odds of a sales team scoring their required victories.
Greatness doesn’t just happen…it’s generated by texture.
I’m physically looking forwarding to studying the NBA career of Steph Curry—a master on the college front now playing ball in a world of giant egos fronted by millions of dollars stuffed into never ending pockets. If he’s anything like his father Del…Steph has no problem sitting on those cold metal benches at court level watching the inside cuts to the right, left then down the baseline stuffed into every shred of that painted wooden floor by the names, faces and desires of those before him for no reason other than making a single shot that could win a valuable moment.
There are no ooo’s or aww’s in being a martial arts black belt. After every class, 99.3 percent of what was shared will be forgotten the moment you touch the door leading your dreams back out to the real world. It must be the same in radio because for 30 years I’ve been asked to do the same thing over and over again, “Slow down, quit talking over listener’s heads and sell a thought to your listener not at them.”
A Presbyterian minister stopped by the recording studio yesterday—together we agreed that a single string of positive has arrived from this current recession/depression…while elected officials and highly paid business leaders have fought to keep the company above water, over ¾’s of American families and single people have learned more about themselves in the past nine months than they did when money grew on trees—through outside efforts and other means of leadership (texture) survival has been achieved.
Stop walking out of what you assume is a cluttered mess of mumbo jumbo ideas and wacky speculations—if leaving our country was the best a company could do in order to survive…its no different than cleaning out your closet in the bedroom…finally American ingenuity and pride has more room to grow!
Maybe its time you sit on the long dark brown wooden benches of everyday life and start watching the makings of the students who will one day lead. The best way to stay ahead is to know your competition. It’s always more fun when you can teach what you know because it clears out the closet enforcing enough space for your product to grow. And if someone gets a little vocal about your business stepping on their toes…write it off. They’re the punk kid at the park who didn’t like the way the game was moving so they grabbed their ball and bat and went back home. The rest of you located a rusted metal can and turned it into a ball whacking out of the park by a tree branch.
Your job in life is to win and winning is always a choice.
Steal my art…
arroecollins@clearchannel.com
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