In life I think we all need something that we are good at. You don’t have to be the founder of the world to know in your heart that you are good at something. It could be you care for others, you help others, you give to others, you sing, you write, you are good at your work, your yard is the best in the neighborhood, you speak well, you teach well and the list could go on for page after page.

I was thinking about this very thing this week before a meeting. For some reason I love selling hotels and have been doing an ok job at it for 25 years. There are so many areas of my life where I am not so good like skiing, basketball, speaking, writing, and teaching and of course that list could also go on for page after page.

While I was sitting there before that meeting, I wondered what it would be like to be to any specialty what Michael Jordan was to basketball, Roger Federer is to Tennis, Bill Gates is to technology, Billy Graham was to the gospel, Jack Nicklaus was to Golf, Steve Jobs was to inventions, Frankie Valli was to music, Warren Buffett is to investing, and Hershel Walker was to UGA football? I am talking about being the “Market Maker” at a specialty that becomes the bench mark for everyone else. In all the above examples, these people came on the scene and changed the future of their specialty. I think of Roger Bannister when he broke the 4 minute mile in 1954. Before him it was not thought possible because many had tried and no one had succeeded in breaking the 4 minute mark. Here is the interesting part, within one year after Roger Bannister broke the 4 min record, there were 24 other runners that broke the 4 min mark. Sometimes we just need to see someone else prove it can be done.

These people listed above are in such rare company because through history there are only a very few that ever come along. Being the best at something should never be our goal. I think our goal should be being the best WE can be at something. That’s really all you can do. Once you have done your best, that is all there is. I think that should be our objective. It is not inventing something that will change the world, rather it could be you are a good listener and friend to others or you excel at your job. Whatever it is, I believe a sense of accomplishment happens when you try your best and become proficient at something.

The term “one thing” is a very common theme through religion and history. I think it can also apply to being good at something. Pick one thing and make up your mind that you will do the best you can. While I don’t this to be true, I don’t know of an athlete that is the very best in two sports. Many gifted athletes are good in many sports but they usually are only great at one. All we need is the one thing that we are good at that challenges us to really try. It’s the really trying part that I believe everyone needs to have in their life. So go be good at something. KT