Last week, as I was pulling out of the parking lot to my new favorite chicken joint, I saw a crisp ten-dollar bill strolling down the street. Amid the intense excitement, I threw my car into park and found myself playing "catch me if you can" with my new friend, Andrew Hamilton. At that moment, my focus was on putting that money in my hand. I couldn't let this opportunity slip away—I mean it was literally within arms reach. After trying to step on it and having it escape my size 13 shoe about six or seven times, I wanted to give up.
In fact, after the wind blew it down the road a little further, that little voice started talking, "Dang, dude! You out here risking it all for $10. Your story in the paper will read:
"Black Veteran Loses Life After Chasing Ten-Dollar Bill Outside of New Favorite Chicken Joint"
Then another voice said, "Try again. And again. And again. And again." And just before I gave up, I reached down and picked it up, effortlessly. All of that drama when I only needed to reach out and grab it.
When I stood up, a warm sense of gratification washed over me because I took a risk and had become successful. I finally looked around and noticed that I was in the middle of the road and lunch-time traffic was still very active. During the pursuit of this worthy goal, I remember thoughts of getting hit by a car crossing my mind—but to me, at least then, the risk was worth it. I think because I saw myself with the ten-dollar bill before I even got out of the car.
Upon first spotting Andrew strolling down the road, I remember telling a friend, "Oh shit! There go ten-motherfu**in-dollars." They couldn't see it, though. But, I knew what I saw, because it was mine to see. Sometimes, visions placed in our mind's eye are just for us and the only way we can get our friends and family to see it is by coming back with the reward.
Rest assured, before you begin your journey and many times during, fear will pay you an unexpected, unwelcomed visit. Fear of failure. Fear of making a mistake. Fear of what others might think. Fear of being hit by a car. Fear of success. Fear can become so powerful that we end up talking ourselves out of participating in life.
"The wind just keeps blowing this bill down the road!" "I'll never be able to get it!" "What if...?"
Don't get me wrong; fear has its place. Robert Greene, in "The 50th Law" has this to say about fear,
"[Fear] served an additional, positive purpose—we could remember the source of the threat and protect ourselves better the next time."
Oddly enough, the same day this happened my daughter and me had a conversation about overcoming fear.
Her: Daddy, are you afraid of something?
Me: Of course, we all have fears. But, we sho...
Her: Well, I was afraid of Slenderman, but I'm not anymore.
Me: That's good baby. I'm proud of you.
Her: I overcame it. You know what overcome mean?
Me: What does it mean?
Her: I faced it. I faced my fear. You should too.
We should do our best to be like children. I'm going to do my best to follow the advice of my four-year-old. Face your fears. Overcome them. Feel the fear, then let it go. Go for it.
Write your book. Release that project. Fall in love. Launch your site. Whatever it is, just do it. If our instincts and path have led us there, it's where we need to be.
I know its right because God gave me $10, so I could give you this: