Tip: There is a difference between being sharp and being hungry!
Years ago I first heard a motivational speaker by the name of Les Brown. He was an unusual character! It seems that as a young school boy he was mistakenly labeled “educable mentally retarded” (EMR). It caused him to have an incredibly poor self-image and to fail at everything he attempted to do. He told his teachers that he was not able to do the work because he was EMR.
One day, his teacher looked at him and said, “Les, don’t you EVER tell me that again! I have been watching you and I think you are incredibly bright. I believe you can do anything you choose to do because you are a hungry person!” At the time, Les did not understand what his teacher was saying but he said that it sounded good to him!
Later, the teacher explained that a hungry person is someone who is trying to do better in life but who has not yet found the way to go about doing it. Further, a “hungry” person is someone who is looking for an opportunity to do bigger, better and greater things than they have ever done before. The only problem is that they are stuck: stuck in self-pity, mediocrity, making excuses, and casting blame. However, all of that can be overcome simply by becoming hungry. (Les even pronounced the word differently, with a lot of growling emphasis, and made it sound more intriguing – sort of like “houngry”.)
The teacher went on to explain to Les a concept that he still teaches today. He told Les that it is possible to teach a “hungry person” to become sharp. With a good education, a person can develop the necessary skills to become “sharp” in other areas of life. Then his teacher said one more thing to Les that changed his life forever. The teacher looked at him and said, “You can teach a hungry person how to become sharp but you cannot teach a sharp person how to become hungry.” He said that while many people are incredibly sharp and already possess gifts, talents and abilities, often those qualities are wasted because they simply are not “hungry” to do bigger things, better things, and greater things. They are simply satisfied to get by; settling for being average and relying on the good skill sets that they already possess. They fail to rise to a new level because there is no “burning fire” inside of their belly. They are indeed sharp – they are just not hungry.
I wonder what you are thinking right now about this concept. I know that when I heard Les tell his story, I said in my heart, “I know what he is talking about! I am hungry. I am hungry to tell people good news that will set them free. I am hungry to give people the kind of information that will cause their lives to be better. I am hungry to see my personal life, family and business become better and more profitable. I am hungry to see my friends develop into successful champions and I am willing to do anything I can to help that become a reality.”
Let me encourage you this week to focus on becoming “houngry”. Go after your goals and dreams with all of your heart. If you do not have the tools or skill set that is necessary, then perhaps you could take a class or read a book that will help you to become sharp. Start associating with other people whom you perceive to be “houngry”; not sharp, but hungry! Remember, there is a big difference between being “sharp” and being “houngry”.
Spend some time thinking about what it is that you “hunger and thirst” after. I hope you will fill your hunger with good things this week; things that are good, wholesome, healthy, pure and positive. Then help others do the same. It makes life great every day!
Tip: Three is a difference between being sharp and being hungry!
Have a great week! God bless you!
Dr. Robert A. Rohm
