Believe In Yourself!

Many of you have probably seen the latest YouTube sensation to make the rounds, but if you haven’t, here’s a link to check out. This video has been shown on several TV networks including ESPN, Fox and NBC, and the fisherman shown in it has been interviewed by Fox and Friends and The Today Show.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6cV4FCwtTEo
I’m not bringing your attention to this just because it is a funny video about a random guy getting attacked by a goose, but to hopefully inspire you to believe in yourself and follow your dreams.

The fisherman in this video is a good friend of mine from childhood and was a groomsman in my wedding, Drew Gregory. Up until last year, he had been working for different colleges and helping their recreation and intramural sports departments. He used these jobs to pay the bills, but in his spare time he was working on his craft…kayak fishing. Over the years, he made numerous contacts with people in the fishing industry, practiced the techniques, honed his skills, and learned what it would take to make a living as a professional kayak fisherman. Then, at the end of last summer, he left his job and pursued his passion full time. He created a website for fishing tips and videos, negotiated a deal with the company Jackson Kayak to design a river fishing kayak and began leading tours for casual river fisherman. Whenever he is out on the water, he has his waterproof HD camcorder rolling so that he can record anything that he catches or that happens to him. That’s when the goose attack happened.

What can we learn from Drew? I hope that it is not just how to be attacked by a goose and survive! I hope that we can see a man who knew what his passion was and decided to believe in himself and pursue that goal.

How can the Jaycees help you to do this? We’re not all cut out to be kayak river fisherman, but we do have our own professional goals for ourselves. Just like Drew, we have to practice our skills and learn about our passion while we are working in areas that don’t always get us closer to our ultimate dream. The Jaycees can help you develop your talents in many areas. We offer opportunities in leadership, writing skills, public speaking, organizing, recruiting, sales, business and social networking, project management, fundraising, accounting, management, planning and much more.

My challenge to you is to believe in yourself. If you know what your goals are, the Jaycees can probably help you get there. If you don’t, we can help you develop as a person as you discover your life’s ambition. Give us a try. Get involved and get active, because the sky is the limit.