Lesson #11: Know Yourself

Note: If you’d like to see all the lessons, click on the category: Making Big Things Happen

It’s hard to accomplish your dream if you don’t have a good sense of your strengths and weaknesses.  What I know after a year of getting ready to go on this bike ride is that I am stronger than I thought!  But I also realize that I am no Tillie.  I am a story writer and teller, not an astonishing athlete.  You don’t have to be a super athlete to ride your bike to Chicago, but you do have to be in a certain kind of shape. I’ve come to accept that I don’t have as much control over that as I’d like to.  I’d like to be able to say for sure I will make it on ‘my own two wheels,’ but I have come to accept that getting there is more important than getting there by bike.

My stubbornness in insisting I do this all on my bike has caused me a lot of stress.  I have to accept that I like to have more control than a project like this is going to allow me.  And I have to learn to let go a little.  If I achieve my end goal—making a book come alive for you—then I will be content, whether I ride the whole ride or not.

I may look like Tillie, but I'll never ride like her. There is only one Tillie!

Lesson #10: Make Your Team

Note: If you want to see all the lessons, click on the category: Making Big Things Happen

In the last lesson, I encouraged you to reach out to others who could help you.  But guess what?  Not everyone gets to be on your team.  Only you can decide who can be close to you as you try to achieve your goal.  Sometimes even your best friend–your Dad–people very close to you normally–do not get to be on your team.

Your team is an idea you hold in your head.  You don’t have to tell anyone about it.  These are the people you go to for support or advice when things are looking bad.  How can you tell who to pick?  Well, let me give you an example.  Let’s say you want to try to qualify for your school district’s spelling bee.  You share your idea with some people.  How they respond will give you an idea of who should be on your team.

YOU: I think I’m going to try out for a spot on the District Spelling Bee Team.

DESIREE: My sister, Cassie, tried out and she didn’t get on the team.  She got way better marks than you in spelling.  (No.)

BRIAN: You’re going to have to practice a lot.  Do you want me to quiz you? (Yep.)

AUNT PAT: You can do whatever you put your mind to (Probably)

MOM: Your sister tried out, too.  She didn’t get in. (maybe not on the team)

When you talk about your dream, are people receptive?  Do they listen and give you good suggestions?  If so, they are probably good team members.  Are they critical?  Do they slap down all your ideas?  Do they seem uninterested?  If so, they probably don’t belong on your team.

For the Tillie Ride, I have considered lots of different people for my team.  I am happy to say I have a great team!  Here are some of the people you may meet when we show up at your school….

L to R: Alyson, Bob, Sam, Roger, Sara, Austin

I also have lots of kids like you. Marissa (pictured below) is such a great cheerleader for me.  She thinks I can do anything! which makes me think that I can, too.

Me and Marissa in her classroom at Kenowa Intermediate

And if everything works out just right, I’ll be reunited with my dear friend, Vickie, who I met when she was Marissa’s age.  She’s now a beautiful young woman, living and working–and singing!–in Chicago.  Vickie put me on her team (and I put her on mine) a long time ago.  If I need anything, I know I can rely on Vickie.

So build your team!  You will not only have friends for life, you will also stand a much greater chance of succeeding.  We all need a little help from our friends.

Vickie and me mentoring at MLK Leadership Academy