Monday, October 09, 2006
How Long Is Your Driveway?
Yesterday I took Morgan Worthington, my high school-aged grandson, to a competition of intellect. These competitions have been around for years, you know, two school teams with a moderator asking lightening-round questions on history, fine arts, mathematics, science and literature. True to stereotype, there were no football players, only skinny guys with pocket protectors, the types that grow up to be Bill Gates, Steve Jobs or Albert Einstein.
Our school, focused on religious-centered education, is a humble learning institution filled with everything its budget can afford without a football team or French classes. This was my first trip to the eliminations and the contenders caused me to wonder if we would be maneuvering on a level playing field. Complete with students from high-income suburban public schools, prep schools and private academies totally unaffordable to anyone but Tony Soprano, we forged ahead. However, prior to arriving at a venue much resembling a university, we traveled down longest driveway I'd ever encountered that wasn't a mental institution or a high-risk correctional facility.
Becoming a bit nervous for my cherished 16-year old Einstein I joked that perhaps one's income was really measured by the length of one's driveway. We arrived and three hours later our team had ultimately prevailed in two out of three competitions. So much for long driveways!
It was a glorious day for the Rockys, Cinderellamen and Seabiscuits of the world. It is not unusual to see the same victories in job search when clients refuse to be intimidated and refuse to feel inferior over some real or perceived inadequacy. Did my Einstein play on a better team or did my Einstein's team play better? I'm not sure. But I have one fact to offer. Driveways don't measure anything. What matters is that we never let ourselves be defeated because our performances are muted or discouraged by our perception of the next guy. Besides we are probably intimidating him!
Our school, focused on religious-centered education, is a humble learning institution filled with everything its budget can afford without a football team or French classes. This was my first trip to the eliminations and the contenders caused me to wonder if we would be maneuvering on a level playing field. Complete with students from high-income suburban public schools, prep schools and private academies totally unaffordable to anyone but Tony Soprano, we forged ahead. However, prior to arriving at a venue much resembling a university, we traveled down longest driveway I'd ever encountered that wasn't a mental institution or a high-risk correctional facility.
Becoming a bit nervous for my cherished 16-year old Einstein I joked that perhaps one's income was really measured by the length of one's driveway. We arrived and three hours later our team had ultimately prevailed in two out of three competitions. So much for long driveways!
It was a glorious day for the Rockys, Cinderellamen and Seabiscuits of the world. It is not unusual to see the same victories in job search when clients refuse to be intimidated and refuse to feel inferior over some real or perceived inadequacy. Did my Einstein play on a better team or did my Einstein's team play better? I'm not sure. But I have one fact to offer. Driveways don't measure anything. What matters is that we never let ourselves be defeated because our performances are muted or discouraged by our perception of the next guy. Besides we are probably intimidating him!
