OK. So I stood next to one of the world’s most famous opera singers, the man who taught Newt Gingrich to debate, a painter who has work hanging in the Carter Center, an up-and-coming opera star who has performed in the Lincoln Center, a Tony-winning actress and dancer, a New York Times bestselling author and a historian who has preserved over 1,000 acres in his career and thought, “How in the heck did I get in here?” I then thought, “What do we all have in common?” Well, to begin with, we all graduated from the same high school (Sprayberry High School in Marietta, Georgia.) But I noticed a few other golden threads running through the acceptance speeches on that hot August Sunday afternoon:
1. Everyone was grateful and humble. It you have won a Tony or a Grammy or had Pierce Brosnan star in movie that you wrote, you have a right to have a galaxy-sized ego. But no one did. That really impressed me. I’m convinced really talented people are humble. It’s the posers who are the egomaniacs.
2. Their amazing passion for their art came out in their words. Passion is what allows you to put in the insane amount of focused practice it takes to become world-class in your craft. It’s the secret sauce for success.
3. They thanked their families — particularly their parents — for believing in their dream. The stars may have been on the stage, but the reason they shined were in the audience. It’s not that their parents pushed them — it’s that they BELIEVED in them.
4. They had teachers who discovered, encouraged and helped them hone their talents. Like I said in my speech, a good teacher will teach you. A great teacher will give you a career.
Sure, I am amazingly honored and humbled to have my picture hanging on the wall with Travis Tritt, Ty Pennington, Jennifer Larmore, Roy Johansen, Stephanie Michels, Adam Cannedy, Christopher Martin, Michael Martin, Chester Gibson, Robin Bolton and Douglas Mabry. But I am even more honored and humbled to get a brief glimpse of how truly successful people act and live.
Great observations. I hope I am doing an adequate job of my part of the first three.
I’m sure you are. I just noticed a few things that the people who were at the ceremony had in common. I hope I can be like them someday.