So I remember it perfectly. It was December 2012. I had just finished up my Masters Degree and all signs pointed I was on my way to Corporate America.
It's kind of funny what happened next. I had never watched "The Voice" at all. In fact I usually made fun of people who did, but one cold winter night during a crossroads in my life I happened to stop on NBC as I was flipping channels in my old apartment. I saw this girl, Cassadee Pope singing and it caught my attention. I knew nothing about her, but immediately I was like this girl has something. I saw a girl glowing with passion and chasing her dream. It was the second last episode of that season and I just knew she was going to win. Especially after her mind blowing cover of Miranda Lambert's famed song, "Over You" She stood out. I ended up watching the season finale to see her win and sing alongside her hero Avril Lavigne, looking like she was having the time of her life.
I started realizing man people who chase their dreams have the best stories. The more I learned about her, I was like damn this girl speaks my language. That's the biggest thing I realized is people who chase their dreams understand one another because they have common similarities that most people aren't willing to endure. The risk, the criticisms, the hate, the adversity... Basically you say to yourself- I am willing to fail in front of the whole world and in the end it's still a success.
Soon after that final episode aired and Cassadee was crowned Season 3 Winner of the Voice, I had an opportunity come to me that would allow me to live my dream if I was willing to change my bad habits, to give up my safety and comfort as well as what most people cling to is their security aka "comfort zones."
I decided to go all in on my dreams, turning from the Corporate way of life. I was excited, yet secretly terrified. I threw my resumes in the garbage (which felt so good) and what do you know the day I decided to do that... That night, I look over and there she was again on my TV this time on New Years Eve in Times Square with Carson Daily. God will give you signs to let you know you are not alone and this was one of them.
I remember thinking man going after your dream is so amazing. Just laying it all on the line and taking that chance, look at the rewards on the other side. She went from not knowing if she'd win a show in front of the world on TV to singing at one of the biggest celebrations in America. It's truly amazing!
Needless to say here I was, I had absolutely no clue what I was doing, and I had almost all my friend groups criticizing and disowning me for choosing to live my dreams. I had family telling me I was nuts, but New Years Day 2013, I hopped in my car anyways on a dollar and a dream and was off to Florida to start this journey. I've been on the journey ever since all over America landing in spots I never could've imagined. My whole life changed overnight. Yeah, plenty of people left me. They turned there back and were gone, but man I wouldn't trade the pain for what I've learned.
Am I rich yet? No... Has everything gone as planned? No, actually not at all. I've failed so many times in this past year and a half it's incredible, each failure teaching me a new lesson. It's been the greatest growing experience of my life. If anyone told you dreams were easy, they lied. I sold everything I had, dropped my apartment and went all in. Tip toeing in the water will never work in living your dream. It's pretty simple, you're either in or you're out. There really is no in between. If you stop, no one is covering your shift. So, for the days of uncertainty on the path of pursuing my dreams, I came up with this quote that has carried me through the patches where I didn't know, and the future seemed blurry. I chose to focus on the here and now instead. I'd look in the mirror and say this quote: "I've never been more broke, but I've never felt so rich."
I am alive. I am free, and I am in love with this life. It's rare you don't find me smiling now a days. I've been blessed to be able to be mentored for over a year now with a guy I call my good friend who came from the National Football League. I've met my heroes. I've seen every aspect of my favorite hockey teams NHL arena and got a guided tour by a player. I got to touch and pose with the Stanley Cup. Things I always dreamed about as a kid. I am not here to brag about any of this, but I am here to show you it's possible. If you can think it, it's real and it just gets more and more real as the days carry on. Often the question I am asked and I find funny is: How come you get to do all this stuff? Scroll back to the top and re read what I've already wrote. Serving my country and fighting in two wars, making it back alive and in one piece laid the foundation. Bottom line is: You have to make a decision and you must endure risk. Plain and simple.
I remember thinking if I had a chance to meet Cassadee "someday" I'd want to say thank you for changing my life and being a huge influence to me, during such an uncertain time. Three months after I made the decision around New Years 2013 I met her in Las Vegas on a limb while at a convention. I had no clue we'd be at the same place, same time. I had no clue I'd ever meet her. Now I've been fortunate and blessed to be able to meet her three times now in just over a year. I've been blessed to be able to share some laughs with Cassadee. She is truly one of the nicest, most genuine girls I've ever met. If you have the chance to meet her, do it. In fact this past time we joked, "Started from the bottom now we here." Haha.
In fact, there has only ever been five winners of The Voice and I've met three of them. It's insane to me, but God will open doors when you put your faith in him and say, I trust you. You are guiding me, though I can't always see it. Great quote from a pastor that I carry with me on the journey is: "God uses pain and suffering to shape us into who we ought to be, not who we want to be, or what others think we should be."
Bottom line is: Thoughts become things. You have to be willing to be all in though, or else thoughts are just thoughts. It's like being in an endless day dream. You have to awake from that day dream and get out there if you want it. The world is massive with tremendous opportunity and you have skills no one else has. Think about that. It's astonishing. Use them.
If you're out there chasing your dream keep going. Failure is the stepping stone to massive growth. You just never know who you are inspiring and God has a plan for you.
No matter what anyone says- Listen to what God puts in your heart, it will never lead you astray. Oh and in case I didn't make it clear- Thank you Cassadee for being that shining light when I needed it most.
God Bless and Semper Fi
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