Yep. I was a kid you’d consider wanting to drown.
Recently I was walking with my mentor and we were chatting as we walked. As we passed by his pool he mentioned they’d – just the night before – had a bunch of 12- 14 year-old boys in the pool having a great time.
In jest I said, “Were there a few boys you wanted to drown?”
He grinned and he nodded his head and laughingly said, “There always is, right?”
We both laughed as we walked.
Then something interesting crossed my mind… so I asked him…
“Were YOU one of those boys adults wanted to drown?” The smile on his face spread wide as he replied.
“You know what? I DEFINITLY WAS.”
Keep in mind. This mentor of mine is a man I admire more than you can imagine. He’s kind, he’s open, he’s fun, he’s honest, he’s successful and he’s a man of integrity. He’s the kind of man I aspire to be.
BUT… he was one of the boys that parents wanted to drown when he was a kid.
He… was a challenge.
Then he asked ME the same question. “How about YOU? Were you one of the boys parents wanted to drown?”
My reply didn’t surprise him at all. “Yep. I was a kid you’d probably consider drowning, too.”
That’s when our discussion changed.
His eyes brightened as he said something SO PROFOUND… it stopped me in my tracks.
“That’s why it’s so important for us to view these kids through the lens of THEIR POTENTIAL and not THEIR CURRENT RESULTS.”
“Wow. I said. Say that again. PLEASE!”
“We always need to see these kids as THEIR POTENTIAL and not THEIR CURRENT RESULTS.”
He then went on to share with me how many adults had “written him off” as a lost cause when he was a kid. Many assumed (viewing him through the lens of his current KID results) that he’d never amount to anything.
But then there were a few (he mentioned VERY FEW) adults that viewed him through a lens of POTENTIAL… and they made a huge difference in his life.
His point was very clear to me and I hope it is to you, too.
Many of the kids we’d currently “consider wanting to drown” may grow up to be kind, open, fun, honest, successful and have tremendous integrity…
Just like my mentor.
And…
We can help… or hinder… their advancement.
If we view them through the lens of their current results… we will probably be annoyed and impatient and may be (probably be) doing them a disservice.
But if we view them through the lens of their potential… we will most likely be more patient and kind and encouraging and will probably be helping them achieve their full, wonderful potential.
Instead of… you know… drowning them.
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