8/3: WHAT ARE YOUR TALENTS?
Some asked me where I get my ideas for this part of the newsletter. Most times something happens during the week that inspires me, other times I just have an idea I want to share, and other times I read something that makes me think. Yesterday at church I was reading a magazine article and part of the article asked, “Will you have left the earth in better condition than before you lived on it?” Think about what this world would be like if everyone did, in fact, do that.
Decades ago at work, a friend of mine borrowed a small cement mixer from another friend and he told me that before he returned it, he fixed the on/off switch that was on the blink. I asked him why he spent that time on someone else’s issue when the owner clearly knew it was an issue. It was the first time I heard someone tell me that we should return borrowed items in BETTER condition than what it was delivered to us. Until that point in my life, I made the point to ensure I returned borrowed items in the same condition in which I received it. Not only is that a wonderful, selfless gesture, but think about how much more willing people will be to lend you items and work with you in the future. While this individual did not do that as a transactional expectation for a future favor, he did it out of his own principles, the result is still going to impact the lenders comfort in working with him in the future. He left his friend better off than before he borrowed the mixer.
What are your talents? What are you doing that can make the world a better place? If you look back over your life and feel that you have taken more than you have given, maybe now is a good time to make a change. If you feel you haven’t left the world in a better place, there is still time to change that as well.
Before I opened up a business, I listed out all the talents that God instilled in me. I didn’t try to determine what I might like to do, I simply detected the things I loved doing over the past 40 years of my life, then looked at what type of business could best utilize those talents. I enjoy teaching and leading. I enjoy public speaking. I enjoy athletics. I love competition. I like working with kids. I’ve always been fascinated with how our bodies work. I know there are plenty more items on my list I have forgotten, but the Venn diagram of my talents was just one circle with the words “Martial Arts Gym” in the middle.
I certainly hope at the end of my life that the people around me, and especially God, feel that I made the world a better place. In my time in this business, there have probably been close to 1000 people that have walked through the doors that I have impacted. Sadly, about 50% I’ve only interacted with for 1 hour. But even in that one hour, I hope they learned something that can positively impact their life later on.
Years ago, I told God to use every talent He as given me for as long as is physically and mentally possible. At the end of my life, I want my tank to be empty. Anything less is disrespectful to the One that created me. Embrace your talents. Share them with as many people as you can. Empty your tank and leave your little corner of the world better than what it was before you were here.
