You Are Closer Than You Think

I had the incredible opportunity to see the movie Red Tails, the story of the Tuskegee Airmen and the 1st All-Black Pilot Fighters during World War II. Later that night, I also had a chance to catch a glimpse of an exclusive behind the scenes interview between Oprah Winfrey and the iconic visionary behind the movie, creator George Lucas (also created several all-time classic movies, such as American Grafiti and Star Wars). During the interview, he said something that resounded so loudly with me (Oprah too!) that it literally kept me up all night. He said he went through a 20 year development process to realize his dream of making this movie! 20 years!!! He also stated that since no one would fund the project, he dumped over 100 million dollars of his own personal money to see that his dream became a reality!

Oprah Winfrey interviews visionary George Lucas

Wow! A Major "Ah-Ha" moment for me.  It served as another example of what it takes to be successful.
You must have the persistence and tenacity to overcome any obstacles that may stand in your way. (and yes there will be obstacles!)

When things get overwhelming in your personal or professional life and all your hard work and efforts seem futile, try focusing on the fact that great things take time to develop. Just because you don't get the immediate gratification we so often desire, don't get discouraged. You must continue to push forward and reach a higher level of mental toughness. Have faith in your efforts. Most people usually set out to do something remarkable, give up on it too soon. They persevere the journey, reach the one-yard line but fail to score the touchdown. Don't let this be you! See it through until your dreams become reality. Whether you strive to be great athlete,  schoolteacher, coach or businessman, always remember that your destination is probably closer than you think. Embrace those opportunities that call for delayed gratification. The payout usually is higher and alot more rewarding in the end.

 So I ask you,

Are you willing to make the sacrifice?

Are you willing delay immediate gratification to gain long-term success?

What if George Lucas would have said, "You know what guys, this is too hard and requires too much vision, hard work and focus. I'm calling it quits?"

What if The Tuskegee Airmen would have opted to stop short of their mission while protecting the country during the war? 

Well in the words of the movie's leading actor Cuba Gooding Jr, "Thanks to the vision of Mr. Lucas, many generations of people now can reap the benefit of the learning the story of the Tuskegee Airmen, one of the greatest American hero stories that was never told."

Keep pushing. You Are Closer Than You Think.

Until our next moment...... keep improving!

The Tuskegee Airmen were the first African American military aviators in the United States armed forces