Potentially Flawed

I'm potential battlin' with complacency
Open my eyes, see the real world facin' me
I run from the real but the real keeps chasin' me
And when I'm exhausted is what part of me can't wait to see
I'm intelligence on a search for motivation
I'm hope, that's just hoping for the right situation
I'm ambition that's already happy with its station
I'm romance that's had to settle for unrequited infatuation
I'm life that seems to take itself for granted
And I'm a vision of the future that never really planned it...

Potential can be the curse of the moderately talented. If you make your friends laugh you think you're the next George Carlin, Bill Cosby or Dane Cook. If you can write your destiny is to be mentioned alongside Shakespeare, Hemingway or Grisham. If you can rap you will tear up microphones like Rakim, Nas or Gucci Mane. The point, besides the fact that one in three people have twisted ideas of what constitutes greatness, is that there is a wide chasm between potential and greatness that few cross. Potential is a bigger waste in this country than plastic bottles or a nice dress on Roseanne.

I've thought a lot about potential over the years. Or, more accurately, filling or failing that potential. I had opportunities as a youth due to my perceived potential. I tested well. I was typically ahead of my classmates. I was enrolled in advanced and 'gifted' programs. I had a supportive family and educational structure to promote achievement and accomplishment and funnel that potential into future opportunities. I had the chance to obtain a college degree (yes, it still counts if it's in History). I now currently work a retail job that makes little use of my education. I have had legal and financial issues. With the exception of my rugged good looks, which I've exploited whenever possible, it would be fair to say that in many ways I've squandered the opportunites I've been given, and that which countless others would have been exceedingly grateful to receive. This is not to be pessimistic or to suggest that I am unhappy with my life or that I don't still have a future ahead of me. Quite the opposite. I am reasonably content with my status and proud of myself as a person. I may not be an overachiever in a career, relationship or financial sense but I am far from a failure as a human being. And I am still consistently working on improvement.

I wanted to give my background regarding potential because I think there are numerous others like me and a general misconception on what truly leads to success in our society. There is a world of difference between being a good singer and touring the world as platinum selling pop star. And talent actually has surprisingly little to do with it. I could destroy Lil Wayne in a rap battle (yeah I said it). Puffs and JT are funnier than Larry the Cable Guy. My boy Danny's a better writer than Stephenie Meyers. My girl Beth's a more talented artist than Britney Spears. You get the point.  I don't speak for anyone else but for me I possessed reasonable talent that could have potentially been developed into something more. I did not have they type of talent that demands to be utilized. Some people are so gifted the world gives them no option because we selfishly desire that talent. Many people find that satisfactory middle ground between potential and greatness. They utilize their talents sufficiently to make a living, possibly provide for a family. Some are more comfortable and content than others but there is an undeniable satisfaction in using your gifts to make a living. Most of us aren't truly seeking fame and insane wealth. We just want to be comfortable and not hate what we do.

The reason I titled this Potentially Flawed and that I suggest potential can be a curse is that in my many musings on the subject (I typically ponder, sometimes contemplate, but in regards to potential I prefer to muse) I think that talent is just one of the necessary ingredients to the success souffle', and not necessarily the most important. The following are other qualities that I believe are every bit as valuable in achieving your goals, dreams, etc.:

Knowing What You Want: This has possibly been my greatest obstacle to overcome. If you're going to focus on a goal and put the required effort into, you have to know what it is you desire. Sounds simple yet I think in this day and age it's a fairly common problem. We are increasingly distracted and lacking in focus and concentration. And personally, I blame the ESPN ticker.

Ambition: I've always had questions about the character of anyone who achieves the position of President of the United States, regardless of their politics or whatever dirt the opposing party has dug up. Why? Because you have to have a serious drive and desire to achieve that goal. It's not something you fall into and there's a lot of ego-driven sacrifice required to become President, CEO, etc. A lot of people would like to be a rock star. The guy who eats, sleeps, breathes and shits being a rock star is far more likely to accomplish it than the guy holding a beer at a party telling you how many women he'd sleep with if he was the frontman for Nickelback.

Hard Work / Effort: Again, I know it sounds cliche' but it's true. As much as it pains me to say it while I don't find Dane Cook particularly funny the truth is he gets his ass up on stage and DOES it. And he's probably been doing it for 15 years, in dive comedy clubs and bars for very little money before he got way overpaid for doing it in sold out stadiums. Lil Wayne puts out a mix tape every 4 days. Britney was practicing dance moves and wearing stripper outfits at 13 while I was watching TV and playing basketball in the driveway. Peyton Manning was probably the 12th best athlete on his high school football team but he's one of the best quarterbacks of all time. Because he worked at it. And because his Dad was an NFL quarterback but we'll discuss parenting at another time.

See, I have moderate talents. But I never really knew what I wanted. I didn't have any driving ambition. And, in the interest of full disclosure, I haven't put in the hard work required to succeed. I work hard at my job, I'm good at it. But I never truly put in the effort to develop my moderate talents. Maybe this blog is a small step in personal development and fulfilling a little bit of potential. And if you don't think it's successful, well you and Lil Wayne can discuss it with me anytime.