Three Minute Leadership: Jumping Into a Wheelbarrow
To: The Great Leaders Who Have a Passion for Continuous Learning
Mark Lewis, Professor of Clinical Psychology, in his Commencement Speech at the University of Texas in 2000, provides a poignant leadership message in the story of the first tightrope walker.
In 1859 the Great Blondin — the man who invented the high wire act, announced to the world that he intended to cross Niagara Falls on a tightrope. Five thousand people including the Prince of Wales gathered to watch. Halfway across, Blondin suddenly stopped, steadied himself, back flipped into the air, landed squarely on the rope then continued safely to the other side. During that year, Blondin crossed the Falls again and again — once blindfolded, once carrying a stove, once in chains, and once on a bicycle. Just as he was about to begin yet another crossing, this time pushing a wheelbarrow, he turned to the crowd and shouted “who believes that I can cross pushing this wheelbarrow.” Every hand in the crowd went up. Blondin pointed at one man.
“Do you believe that I can do it?” he asked. “Yes, I believe you can,” said the man. “Are you certain?” said Blondin. “Yes,” said the man. “Absolutely certain?” “Yes, Absolutely certain.” “Thank you” said Blondin, “then sir, get into the wheelbarrow.”
He says of this: “… there will be times in your life when knowing things won’t matter as much as how scary the situation is — and when that happens you’ll have to decide whether or not to get into the wheelbarrow….. there is going to come a time in your life when in order to succeed you will have to trust — when you will have to make a big leap of faith.” These will be the great challenges, the magnificent possibilities that great leaders dream. There will be uncertainty. There will be fear. Yet there will be great belief in themselves that goes beyond the limits of knowledge, and the understanding that whatever the outcome, they will have grown and succeeded. When you are asked to jump into the wheelbarrow, remember the words of Frederick W. Cropp, writer: “There is much in the world to make us afraid. There is much more in our faith to make us unafraid.” Believe in yourself; see your potential. Remember: “You have everything you need, if you just believe.”
Have a beautiful day and a magnificent week!!!
Happy July 4th!
Mike