My wife has framed a quote in our house from Roald Dahl that states, "I began to realize how important it was to be an enthusiast in life. If you are interested in something, no matter what it is, go at it full speed. Embrace it with both arms, hug it, love it, and above all become passionate about it. LUKEWARM IS NO GOOD." Mr. Dahl expresses it well, but it's not a new thought. The book of Revelation, written centuries ago, also addresses the issue of lukewarmness. Revelation 3:15-16 states, "I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth." In my opinion, both quotes emphasize the importance of pursuing the best parts of our lives without fear. This leads me to this week's thoughtson going all in.
Recently, my daughter faced a dilemma when deciding whether to try out for the cheerleading squad. Here are a couple of key details you need to know. First, at Sterling, the small school she attends, everyone generally gets to be on whatever sports team they choose. There is a distinction between varsity and junior varsity, but the goal is for everyone to learn and improve, with the possibility of earning a spot on the starting squad. However, cheerleading is an exception to this. They have a limited number of spots available each year, typically opened by graduates and transfers. Second, I firmly believe that my daughter is perfectly suited for high school cheerleading. I admit I am EXTREMELY biased, but she has a joyful personality, a great smile, intelligence, and athleticism, despite not being tall. Now that you have some context, let me share the rest of the story.
For months leading up to the cheerleading tryouts last month, she deliberated and wavered on whether to try out. She kept expressing her strong desire to do it but also feared that she wouldn't be chosen due to the high number of talented girls trying out and the limited number of spots available. A few weeks before the tryouts, she made the decision to go for it. She started stretching more and practicing her jumps. When the tryout material became available, she began practicing every day in our living room. We talked about the importance of practicing the way you intend to perform and the concept of going all in. We discussed the importance of eliminating self-doubt and gaining the confidence to approach the tryout with purpose and on purpose. When the day of the tryouts finally arrived, she gave it her best.
Another factor that keeps us lukewarm is distraction. Our world is full of distractions that divide our focus and prevent us from becoming the best versions of ourselves. Personally, I often struggle with the urge to zone out when I'm tired after work. In agriculture, we all experience seasons that demand long hours to meet the demands of feeding the world alongside our farmers. When my son asks to play catch or my daughter wants help with her tennis game, I must find the energy to leave the house and make it happen. Interestingly, I've never regretted finding that energy to spend time with them. Another battle I face is with my schedule. Many things demand my time, but I must resist the temptation to overschedule myself so that I can make time for date nights with my wife. After God, my wife holds the second most important place in my life. Viewing it from that perspective, it seems absurd to let anything else take priority over intentionally spending time with her. A third and final example is our Globally Responsible Production program. It has required an immense amount of work and time to research and develop a sustainability program that bridges the gap between the needs of farmers, consumers, and the planet. Because Ag Partners aims to lead the agricultural community with intentionality, unselfishness, and vision, we created this program to be shared with everyone. However, this decision has resulted in a greater demand for time and careful planning. I have had to combat the distractions posed by other future projects that I intend to tackle. Additionally, I had to confront the fear of failure associated with such a significant undertaking.
I can honestly say that not being lukewarm in these three examples has led to wonderful outcomes. I am married to the love of my life, who is God-loving, brilliant, and beautiful. Even after days of traveling, my children still seek my help and greet me with hugs. Globally Responsible Production is now a fully operational program that brings together farmers, urban consumers, corporate partners, and education to pave the way for a better future (you can check it out yourself at www.globallyresponsibleproduction.com). However, while I like to present these examples, I can also recall instances when I missed opportunities for greatness because I allowed fear or distraction to take hold.
This brings me to this week's challenge: choose to go all in! Take stock of what truly matters in your life and relentlessly focus on it. If you're engaged in a task at work that you love, strive to become the absolute best at it. If you aspire to grow into a new role, showcase brilliance in your current position to demonstrate your readiness for the next step. At home, eliminate the distractions that divert your attention from the truly important people in your life. I cannot envision a scenario in which, looking back 30 years from now, I would wish I had watched more TV or spent more time on social media instead of engaging in meaningful conversations and spending quality time with my family—and I wager you feel the same. So, eliminate distractions, overcome fear, and choose greatness. Go all in!
Oh, and yes, the effort my daughter put in paid off. She made the cheerleading team.
I’m thankful that you were willing to go to work today, that you took the time to read this, and for being a part of what makes Ag Partners the world’s greatest cooperative!
Have an amazing day!