The Tribune

By MICHELLE MILLER

THE train that takes you towards a great life is available only to those willing to do the work. They are the ones who are willing to take the leap, accepting personal responsibility and speaking fearlessly.

Here’s a key point: being great is not about some job title, position, academic, social or financial status. Greatness lies not in the size of your house, cost of your car or any other disposal possession.

Indeed, greatness is an everlasting essence of living with meaning, recognising that you are the difference that makes the difference.

Those seeking to be great use their uniqueness to positively impact the world, right where they are. The challenge, and you know there is always a challenge, is that most people are unfamiliar with the idea of being great.

Of course they fully understand how to be ‘good’, which seems fitting since we are told repeatedly to be ‘good’.

As such, ‘good’ has become a conditioned pattern of thinking that coerces our attitudes and actions. By default, people seek to be good, not great, and many blindly follow this pattern without any real forethought.

Consequently, getting a ‘good’ education serves to support finding of ‘good’ job, which supports making a ‘good’ income, to raise a ‘good’ family.

All of which only maintains the status quo of living what amounts to a ‘good’ (average) kind of life.

Clearly, in the grand scheme of things, nothing is wrong with being good and average. In fact, this average position seems to work for many folks.

The question is, does it work for you; are you seeking to be good or great?

Consider my observation about life as a train station. This well organised train station is the home of all trains, which are ready to take you anywhere. You get to choose which train you will board based on your desired life direction.

Despite the many trains at life train station, the so-called ‘good train’ is always overcrowded, filled beyond capacity.

There is constant pushing and shoving and although, frantic and frustrated, people are still trying to squeeze into this already crammed train.

You see these folks are of the view that this is the ‘safe’ train. Where there is little to no price to pay, no responsibility and they just coast along without taking any real risk.

Not wanting to do much work, they gladly accept this sardine like ride to that so-called ‘good’ life.

Meanwhile, further north of the track where the ‘good train’ boards its passengers, there awaits a magnificent train. This is the ‘great train’. Its majestic polished beauty is incredible. Plush interior design, splashed against walls soft red velvet fascinates your imagination.

This train holds unlimited capacity to take you to your wildest life adventure in grand style. Sadly, its passengers are few.

You see, those on this train accepted responsibility and the price of doing the work. They made the leap from good to great because they believe they are more than ‘good’ enough, that they are born to be great.

Although this magical train has endless room for many more, very few are willing to get off the ‘good train’. Thus, they remain a hostage to the status quo of a supposed good life.

Perhaps you find yourself stuck on that ‘good train’ and you’re ready to get off. Maybe you too realise you are born to be great. Then why not do the work? Why not take the leap from good to great?

James C Collins in his infamous book “Good to Great” puts it well: “Greatness is not a function of circumstance. Greatness, it turns out, is largely a matter of conscious choice, and discipline.”

Leader to leader, make today the day that you look inside yourself. Take responsibility and accept that you are born to be great. Commit to doing the work so you can leap from good to great and get on board the ‘great train’ to the life that you love.

What do you think? Please send your comments to coaching242@yahoo.com or 429-6770.

• Michelle M Miller is a certified life coach and leadership expert. Visit www.michellemmiller.com or send snail mail to PO Box CB-13060