The Sound of Potential

I played the piano throughout grade school and high school. Like any kid who had far better things to do, I hated to practice, so I managed to get by, lesson after lesson, with a minimum amount of effort.  First, elderly Mrs. Jensen tried to convince me of the benefits of practice, and then Mrs. Miller patiently sat through my lessons in high school when piano was the last thing on my list.  But under her guidance I did learn to play a decent version of “Clair De Lune” from memory.

When I went to college and added piano lessons to my schedule as a lark following my roommate’s idea for obtaining an easy credit, I never worked harder for one credit.  Because I had taken lessons for so long, the university’s music department figured I could play fairly well. I may have managed to placate Mrs. Jensen and Mrs. Miller for so many years, but my music professor, an accomplished pianist, didn’t buy my slap-dash approach to the piano. In fact, she actually made me practice scales! Over and over and over.  No teacher had ever demanded so much from me.

Over the next two years, my teachers continued to expect nothing less than my hard work, and I was grateful that I had the opportunity to finally approach music with discipline.  I discovered that I did indeed have potential, and when I actually spent more than a few minutes in the small practice rooms of the music building, I could produce music that sounded so much better than a barely passable “Clair De Lune.”  Practicing required time, focus and commitment—the big three of discipline.

Whether one has talent for writing or painting or playing music, this potential will grow from a small seed to its full bloom with the addition of discipline. The late Jim Rohn said, “Discipline is the bridge between goals and accomplishment.”  However, sometimes discipline alone isn’t enough. Others must help us tend the growing of our potential garden.

The power of discipline and the encouragement of others intersect in this video. The sounds of Patrick Henry Hughes playing “Clair De Lune” at the beginning hooked me. As I watched the story of this talented young man and heard him focus on his abilities rather than his limitations, I realize I often undervalue or fail to see what I’ve been given.  I suspect we all are guilty of being blind to our potential. Maybe our parents help us to see.  Maybe it’s a college professor or a high school coach. And maybe it’s a  young blind man like Patrick Henry Hughes sounding a wake-up call on his trumpet that helps us see who we can be.

I realized after watching this video that Patrick’s book has been dormant on my bookshelf since I bought it maybe two years ago.  I Am Potential: Eight Lessons on Living, Loving, and Reaching Your Dreams alternates between Patrick’s story and his dad’s, the second hero of this story. The first chapter is called “When Life Gives You Lemons, Accept Them and Be Grateful.”  Patrick’s dad says that he realized his son would never play baseball but he sure could play music.  His parents, particularly Patrick’s dad, were instrumental in helping him develop his musical gifts. Witnessing his dad’s discipline in helping Patrick succeed cracked my heart open.

After watching this video, I think you’ll agree that Patrick has turned his lemons into beautiful music.

Who do you have to thank for helping you develop your potential?

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Tagged as: Jim Rohn, Lessons and Instruction, Memoir, Writing