“I want to be remembered” is what my son said last Fall.
“I don’t want to be just a good student that gets forgotten.”
“So, don’t be” I said.
It’s so easy to be a good parent.
It’s so hard to be a good example ;-)
We threw around various ideas. Ultimately, my son decided to start a business competition in the county.
There are science fairs, art fairs, all kinds of fairs. Why not a business competition?
In the following months, he raised money. He raised thousands of dollars. I saw him push himself to do things, I didn’t realize he had the courage to do. He asked people for funds. He found sponsors. He sourced judges. He sold his idea to a group at his school. He created a committee. He created advertising. He planned. He communicated.
He didn’t know how many teams and students would sign up. Maybe 10 he thought initially.
Nearly 60 students and 30 teams entered the inaugural business competition, that hadn’t existed months before. The competition was for students to conceive business ideas, develop business plans and compete for the most innovative idea.
My son reached out to the authors of a book that he named the competition after, "Blue Ocean Strategy", and they had sent him signed copies of the books and a letter to read at the competition.
Throughout the competition he worked, he thought, he planned.
One day, he said to me, I can’t sleep because of how many thoughts I have about this competition.
Last week the competition took place. It went flawlessly. Teams came and went. Judges were escorted from room to room. Videos were assembled. It was better planned and better executed than the vast majority of events that I attend that are professionally planned by adults.
And, ultimately in the evening, there he stood, in front of a packed room… he thanked the right folks. He announced the winners. And, then he announced that next year he is going to take the competition state-wide.
I was crazy proud. Crazy proud for so many reasons, but not necessarily the obvious ones.
I was proud of his pride. I have never seen him prouder.
I was proud of his willingness to listen to feedback every step of the way.
I was proud of his ability to integrate so much of it, and for his courage and vision to ignore some of it.
It was inspiring to see the power of purpose.
It was inspiring to see the power of his ambition.
It was inspiring to see him step into an unknown space.
Ultimately, we should live our lives “to be remembered” as that pushes us to leave our mark, to make an impact.
My son tends to be shy and risk averse… that is his truth.
But, it is also his truth that he is ambitious.
He embraced his moment. He pushed himself into the man he wants to be.
And, he succeeded.
It is amazingly satisfying feeling – to watch your children take charge – of themselves, of their dreams…
Watching my children grow is a blessing…
Watching them find their purpose is a gift…
Yours in harmony,
Nestor