The Popcorn Principle

Stay focused on your effort, attitude, and goals, and not everyone around you

Regular readers of my column in newspapers, magazines, or online publications around the world know that I believe in the wisdom that we become like the five people we hang around with most often. Our thoughts, beliefs, income, and success will mirror the individuals we invest our time with, so it is important to choose those we associate with carefully.

 

Recently, I was speaking with a gentleman I admire and converse with regularly. He was describing the fact that there was frustration among some young people he knows as they felt like they were not progressing as quickly as their peers. It’s important to realize that the only person with whom we should compare our progress is ourselves. We should compare our achievements relative to where we have been and where we have determined to go throughout our lives and careers.
 
The rise in social media has created much envy and discontent as we compare our reality to everyone else’s highlight reels. As my late, great friend and mentor, Coach John Wooden, often told his players, “The only areas in which we have control are our effort and our attitude.”  
 
During our discussion of young people being impatient with their perceived lack of progress, my colleague shared with me the parallels between people and popcorn. When we make popcorn, we pour raw popcorn kernels into oil or a hot air popper, as the case may be, and we wait for the individual kernels to pop. A few of them begin to pop very quickly, then the majority of the kernels pop together in a flurry of activity, and eventually the last few kernels pop just before our snack is ready to eat. We humans are much like the popcorn kernels. A few people have early success, then the vast majority of people begin to achieve, and finally, the stragglers begin to make their mark.
 
I remember meeting with Willie Nelson as he laughingly described to me when he first started having some success on radio and with his recordings.  The press described him as “an overnight sensation,” overlooking the fact that he had been struggling out on the road for almost 20 years. He may be most remembered for his song On the Road Again in which he describes enjoying the struggle and the process.  If Willie Nelson was an overnight success, his success certainly didn’t come over the first night or any other night for almost two decades.
 
We must be dedicated to the process and continue to work on our plan regardless of anyone else’s perceived success or how we might compare to it.
 
As you go through your day today, stay focused on your effort, attitude, and goals, and not everyone around you.
 
Today’s the day!