Monday, January 28, 2008

Are You Born “A-Listed”?

When you have God’s gifts, that only means half the battle is won.

What are God’s gifts? Or if you would prefer, Universe’s gifts or your born assets?

Like an angelic face and a devilish figure. Like a magnetic voice that resonates deeply. Like an ultra soft and flexible body. Like the ability to decode complex figures and equations at the snap of a finger. Like a photographic memory.

I’d give you a scenario and you tell me who you think the winner is.

Imagine two teams of 3 girls each competing for the championship for dancing.

Team A is a very visually pleasing sight. They are equally tall and slender, with pretty looking faces and a proportionate figure. You would wolf whistle at them and they turn heads wherever they go.

Team B doesn’t have the “god-given assets” of such attractive appearances. They are shorter in height, not so pretty but definitely acceptable and older in age.

On first sight, Team A gains points. They win. But, like I say, that’s only half the battle.

The real test comes from how they dance.

Team A choreographed a dance with difficult steps, but wasn’t uniform in their steps and gave judges the feeling of uncertainty.

Team B had a simpler dance in comparison, but delivered it with superb confidence, uniformity and an excellent grasp of the spirit of their dance and rhythm.

So who won? Team B. Hands down.

What does this tell us?

When we are blessed with a pretty or handsome face, we shouldn’t be arrogant. For this, you will soon find yourself blacklisted. Without hard work in what you do, you may remain as just that – pretty face and nothing more.

When we are blessed with a quick mind and wits, we shouldn’t use it to find shortcuts to success and skip building the foundation. Without a solid ground work, even if you made your millions rather quickly, you may not be able to hold that wealth.

When we are blessed with a talent like drawing, singing or dancing, to be the cream of the crop, you need to practice, practice and keep practicing. Talent will make you noticed, but discipline will make you soar. 

When half of the battle is already won without any effort on your part, it only means you should count your blessing, be thankful and work hard to win the game.

Unless you are happy with only being half-there, and half not there. Are you, or are you not?