Step Up And Pay The Price (Part 1)

Below is a poem that I first heard more than fifteen years ago (I heard from a lecture given by a dentist named Mark Murphy. I don't know where he got it from so if any of you know, let me know).
The first time I heard it, it was very inspirational to me. It still is today. But more so, I also reflect on the price I have had to pay and the options I have chosen in my life. As we all know, there are no free rides.


Step Up And Pay The Price


There is a price to pay for education...


There is a price to pay for ignorance...


There is a price to pay for good health...


And a price for sickness and disease.


There is a price to pay for attending to relationships...


And a price to pay for neglecting them.


There is a price for love and trust...


And a price to pay for fear and hate.


We cannot choose whether or not we will pay...


We can only choose for what.


Over fifteen years, as I look back on this poem, what have I learned:


There is a price for education - learning takes effort, time and resources. It is not just about taking programs, it is about reflecting: 
What are my goals in life?
What do I need to learn to get there? 
Then create a plan of what to study. Many I find just take the shotgun approach of going from lecture to lecture to lecture. I often ask the dentists we deal with, how many courses did you go to in the last 18 months? What percentage was clinical education and what percentage was business related? Almost all say 100 percent clinical. Thats why many don't get the best out of their practices. If it were me, I would aim for 50 percent clinical, 25 percent business programs, 25 percent personal development (hobbies or experiences that open your eyes to the world). But then again, thats me.


There is a price for ignorance - pick your teachers wisely. It takes the same amount of time, energy and resources to learn from a bad teacher as a good one. Pick the good ones that help you build the foundations for your goals. Early on, I read a book by Harvey McKay called "Swim With The Sharks Without Being Eaten Alive". I read it by accident - it was the only book that jumped out at me as I was on the ferry from Vancouver to Victoria. I read the book cover to cover and walked away thinking how do I build my foundation - I need to be able to talk to the public so I signed up for public speaking programs, I need to learn to present and convince people of my ideas so I took a job in sales, I need to implement the drive and discipline he has so I need to find some successful role models - so whenever I met people who excelled at their field, I would tap into them when I needed their expertise. How do you tell the good ones from the bad ones - shop around, look at previous accomplishments, reflect on what works for you. 


Incidentally, I met Harvey McKay almost two decades later. I told him how his book was quite inspirational to me at an early age. A week later, I received a signed, hardcover set of all the books he has ever written. I thought, even at this stage in his life, he is still a master at the art of inspiration.


OK...I will continue with part 2 of "Step Up And Pay The Price" next week ... the ocean awaits and its time for a swim. I could get used to Hawaii !

An inspiring spot to write a blog

And this was the icing on the cake