On July 13, 2015, I shared a link on Facebook, Step-By-Step Blueprint to Monetize Your Message by Ted McGrath. This was a 3 part video series. Mr. McGrath shared in his Message 2 Millions about the power of story and a four step formula to create your story:
The Power of Story
- The Call – Every story has a Hero. The call is the Hero’s journey.
- The Pit – Depths of darkness. Your private thoughts of despair. The power of vulnerability.
- The Search – Searching for the solution or the big breakthrough.
- Break through Moment – “Freedom!”
Today, I began THE SEARCH. I am not exactly sure how this happened, but I went through my emails and chose to open one from Michael Hyatt. I started to look through his podcast series and found this: “The One Way to Guarantee You Won’t Succeed: 6 Tricks for Training Yourself to Persist When You Want to Quit.” As I listened to this podcast, I wrote down his 6 steps to persistence:
- Break your project into smaller goals.
- Keep the end in mind.
- Improve your pace and renew your enthusiasm.
- Run and walk. There has to be recovery time even in the pursuit of a big goal.
- Kill the distractions. Stay focused.
- Change your self-image. See yourself as persistent and not a quitter.
When I was in High School, I was a long distance runner, cross-country and track. My freshman year, I was #2 on the varsity Cross Country team. The leader of the pack was a senior. By sophomore year, I was #1 on the varsity Cross Country team and remained so through my senior year. Running became my passion. For all 4 years, I made the All-State Championships, moved on to the New England Championships, and became recognized as one of the state’s top runners. I set a goal for myself that in my senior year, I was going to win the Connecticut State Cross Country Championship. I was well on my way. Having been written up in the Hartford Courant Newspaper many times, my senior year full page article featured, “Mercy senior has love affair with running.” I was noted for not only my physical talent, but my discipline and mental toughness.
Then, the most unexpected tragedy happened. I had just finished defending the Class LL Championship for the third year in a row, set a new course record, and as I crossed the finish line I experienced excruciating pain in my left leg. I collapsed, could not stand up, and could not walk on my leg. All I could think about was that the Connecticut State Championship race was only a couple weeks away. Was I going to be able to run? Was I going to be able to achieve my goal as the State of Connecticut Cross Country Champion? Am I going to let my team and fans down? What was I going to do?
The next newspaper article written in the Hartford Courant stated, “Star Mercy Runner Out.” After several weeks of trying to run through the pain, rest, and try again with nothing but tremendous pain, my mom took me to the Yale New Haven Hospital of Sports Medicine. I had a severe stress fracture in my left tibia. There was no way I could run without risk of further damage. I was done for the season! I missed my chance!
persistence
noun per·sis·tence \pər-ˈsis-tən(t)s, -ˈzis-\
the quality that allows someone to continue doing something or trying to do something even though it is difficult or opposed by other people
I was absolutely devastated. Watching the State Championship from the side-line my senior year was one of those life moments where my mom would say, “This builds character.” Just like in my previous story, “Confront Your Real Story: Get Rid of the Ghost,” this was yet another time in my life where I had to make the choice: give up, give in, or fight. As you can see, there is a pattern forming here. I chose to fight, because I valued persistence!
Over the next several months, I was rehabilitated in my home by a former Olympian from the 70’s. I rode a stationary bike, worked-out on a make-shift wooden box turned into a weight bench, and trained. It took the entire winter to heal, re-gain my strength, and be able to run without limping. I had one more chance. Becoming the 3200 Meter Connecticut State Track Champion was my new goal.
The day of the Track Championships was also the day of my High School Graduation. I will never forget the date, June 5, 1990, as my mom had it carved into the back of a sterling silver cross necklace that she gave me in the morning before I left. The Championships took all day and the 3200 Meter race was the very last event of the day. It took a lot of persistence to remain calm, keep focused, and stay hydrated all day.
It was late afternoon and it was time. We all lined up on the track. My High School Coach, Rehabilitation Coach, and even the University of Connecticut Women’s Cross Country and Track Coach (I was being recruited to attend college at UCONN) were all there watching. The gun goes off…and well, the rest is history. I won the State Open 3,200 Meters in 11:10.24 to earn the title All-State Champion in Track for the first time! I did it! I reached my goal as the Connecticut State Champion!
That evening I went back to my High School, quickly showered, and made it just in time to walk into my Graduation Ceremony behind the tallest girl in my class. The entire auditorium erupted with clapping. Word had already spread like wild-fire that I had won. Now that was truly a moment to remember!
We all have memories, stories, and times we can look back upon to get us out of THE PIT. There is power in persistence, power in your story, power in your life lessons, and when you are faced with falling into THE PIT…SEARCH for the solution. Your breakthrough will happen. My search led me back to this story and one of my non-negotiable core values, PERSISTENCE.
I am out of THE PIT with renewed enthusiasm to move forward with my calling to help others never give away their dreams, passions, or HOPE! Give these tips a try and reclaim your FREEDOM!
Coming soon: Confront Your Real Story Part 3: The Break through Moment
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