A Lesson In The Culture Of Success - From My Daughter

By Rick Weaver

Two years ago my daughter had a dream of someday becoming a cheerleader. She translated her dream into action steps which involved weekly gymnastics training, the addition of a trampoline in our backyard, and occasional jogging.

She went to her first tryout and poured her heart into it. She practiced every evening and on the weekend, teaming with another to develop her final routine. She had confidence in her effort and performance. She had trouble sleeping the night before the new cheer squad would be announced as anticipation chased away all morsels of melatonin. Tears flowed when her name was absent from the final list.

She would not give up. She read cheerleading books from the library, subscriber to a cheerleading magazine, and intensified her use of the trampoline to develop and refine her moves.

Finally it was time for another try-out. She committed her body and time to the sacrifice necessary to make the time. But alas, at the end of the tryouts only the names of others were on the roster.

It was summertime when thoughts of school fall to the back of the mind, yet my daughter continued to hone the skills required for the cheerleading squad. "This year there will be more girls on the squad," she reflected with surety that she would be among the new members. Learning, practicing, and mind-development filled the summer days, although giving into some of the uniqueness of the summer season's special activities.

Soon the weather chilled signaling another fall with another opportunity to make the cheer team. The long afternoon tryout drills were tiring, but they did not dim her hopes - which thrived until the third occurrence of announcing the squad, without her.

Disappointment was severe - three tries and three failures. In despair, she indicated she would move on to something else.

We were surprised when she announced that another cheerleading tryout was coming up for the winter semester and stated she was once again going to make another attempt for the team. As with each prior endeavor, the try-outs occupied her time. She worked out on the trampoline, did back-walk-overs in the house, read her books and magazines, and dreamed that her action plan would finally deliver the most wanted reward. She tuned out the critics by encouraged others trying out to do better, which also helped her draw on her talent.

When I went to pick her up after the new squad was announced she was sitting in a rejected posture on the bench in front of the school. "How long is she going to subject herself to disappointment?" I thought.

As she approached the car she could contain herself no long. "I made it!"

Now the team has won two championship trophies. That's them in the picture above.

Not only had my daughter's dream, turned into a plan which grew to fruition, she experienced that rare feeling that she was part of championship team.

Who could learn from my daughter's lesson? What about the entrepreneur that feels like giving up? What about the business executive that feels they are in over their head? What about the culture that feels they will always be oppressed? What about other dreamers?

Rick Weaver is an accomplished business executive with a wealth of experience in retail, market analysis, supply chain enhancement, project management, team building, and process improvement.

Rick career began in retailing as a stockclerk, eventually becoming the Director of Vendor Development at Kmart Corporation during it's heyday. In this position he worked with hundreds of Kmart's suppliers to improve mutual processes, procedures, and profits. As a consultant, Rick has worked with companies in various industries to develop leadership and business strategies.

As an entrepreneur, Rick has founded or co-founded six successful organizations, including non-profit and for profit. Now in his role as president of MaxImpact, Rick uses his vast experience helping individuals connect to their dreams and teams connect to a common vision.

Rick's presentation style of blending humor, real life examples, and easy to implement ideas has made him a popular speaker at seminars, workshops, and conferences in in 43 states, Canada, and Puerto Rico.

(c) Max Impact Corporation