Exceeding the baseline traits of your DNA
My career was already a big one by the time I was in my early 30’s and I could have ridden that success level for the balance of my life—no problem. My success was more than acceptable by most standards. I had learned some serious and hard lessons being in business for myself as a young Man, several years of which were during the great economic debacle of the late 70’s and very early 80’s, and I had also experienced an inexplicable and almost unheard of personal loss and sadness in my life as well–it was profound and deep in nature. It grew me up quickly and I had all those lessons and memories permanently etched into my mind and soul from the early years.
Yet, I had done well, and all seemed good enough–but there was a problem for me to reconcile. I was fortunate that I had Parents who had been ultra successful in life (and they were good people not just successful)–and that placed a burden on me to reflect in mid-life, and I needed to decide what I had to do, to exceed the potential of the baseline DNA that had been passed on to me.
One night I was sitting in my office at work at 12 midnight reflecting on the curve of my life, my potential versus my accomplishments, and it was tough to admit to myself all alone, in a quiet huge building, in the middle of the night, that I had NOT even met, much less exceeded the gifts of my baseline DNA that came from my family. It was a gripping moment–I was in the midst of an epiphany at 1 A.M., driven by honest, self-introspection. THE TRUTH CUTS HARD when you humble yourself. I had thought about my potential many times before, but I had NOT followed up with the appropriate actions–I decided in the middle of the night, right then, to write myself a brutally honest letter with zero bull shit and 100% honesty, about what I HAD TO DO to move the needle and not just get just better–but get A LOT BETTER across the board. I knew someday later in life that I wouldn’t consider it all worthwhile, or a big win, if I didn’t EXCEED the baseline expectations that were in my DNA code to begin with. It’s probably a good thing I didn’t have a bottle of Black Label in my desk that night, because it was gut wrenching and soul searching enough, to write myself a multi-page letter, and admit that I couldn’t carry a water bucket for my Dad, that I hadn’t touched as many lives as my Mother and I couldn’t say I had been tested as much as my Grandfather who was the single toughest Man I had ever known—yet he ended up a winner. In that letter, I ended with setting new standards for myself–not others. I was done with a gripping letter at roughly 4:30 a.m. and I had a workday coming up in 3 hours. That letter changed my life and not just in business ways, but in total direction.
All people are born with a baseline–it’s different with every Human being, but everyone has one. You’re born naked, bloody and hungry and then the clock starts, and there’s only so much time in a life to beat the expectations what you were born with. I don’t know why I decided to reflect honestly that night and write a letter to myself, but I’m glad I did. I was always a hard worker, but from that night forward I decided to be a better listener, a learner, set loftier goals and be a better leader. I decided to BEAT the base expectations of my DNA. Looking at my family, I had to admit that everyone else was smarter, and that I needed to do more self-education, and gain daily from my experiences. I did just that moving forward.
Write yourself a letter, alone, with deep self-introspection and make it heavily slanted with positive feelings and positive direction–not regret–you can’t change ancient history, which was yesterday. Expect much more from yourself, before you expect more from others. Your life and success will advance quickly.
All the best to everyone,
Bruce