Jeff’s Journal
By Jeff Whitaker
Here’s a reality check for all of us. The odds of hitting it big in the lottery are not good. We all know it. Have you ever entered the Publishers Clearing House sweepstakes expecting that you would win? Probably not. And if your name is Rick Dawson and your horse is a last-minute entry into the Kentucky Derby, you probably would be thinking along the same lines.
Dawson’s horse, Rich Strike, was given an 80-1 chance of winning the Run for the Roses. Now, unless you’ve been living under a rock for the past week, you know where I’m going with this.
Never discount the underdog.
When the race was over, this long shot of a Lexington breed galloped away with more than $1.8 million, making history as the second-biggest long shot to win the Kentucky Derby in the 148 years of the race. Needless to say, Dawson, along with the horse’s jockey and trainer, was shocked.
If you are like me, you are inspired by real-life stories like this one: the come-from-behind victories that renew our faith in the notion that anything is possible.
If you read my column you know that I’m big on finding lessons to apply from the things I see around me. In the case of this “hasn’t-got-a-chance” victory, there are a lot of lessons we can learn. Some of the most obvious ones to me are…
1. The oddsmakers and majority voices aren’t always right. In other words, just because most people aren’t betting on you to win (in your life, your job, your relationships, etc.) doesn’t mean you can’t be victorious.
2. Having an advantage at the start doesn’t mean you’re automatically going to win. Being out in front and having a predisposed advantage in a situation doesn’t automatically mean you are destined to win. Sometimes having to claw your way from the back of the pack and working harder for the things others take for granted can work in your favor.
3. Being in a position to jump in when an opportunity presents itself is a recipe for success. In the case of Rich Strike, the horse’s owner was able to enter him only after another horse dropped out literally at the last minute. You have to be prepared to jump in when the opportunity presents itself. As legendary UCLA basketball coach John Wooden once said, “When opportunity knocks, it’s too late to prepare.”
You and I may never hit the lottery or the Publishers Clearing House sweepstakes, but we can win so much more in life. We need a mindset that is ready to move when needed, and be not given to the opinions and expectations of others. All it takes is belief in ourselves, and a willingness to reach higher than our expectations tell us we can.
Jeff Whitaker is a veteran broadcaster here in South Jersey. He now draws on his experience and training to work with companies and individuals to develop effective storytelling, communications and leadership skills. Find free resources and ways Jeff can work with you at jeffwhitaker.com
