The Priorities Speech

"Decide what you want, decide what you are willing to exchange for it. Establish your priorities and go to work." ~H.L. Hunt

When I was in high school, I played sports. I was no Sheryl Swoops or Misty May mind you, but I was okay for a 1A high school athlete. Anyway, I also grew up showing and judging in 4-H and FFA. This lead to pretty big conflicts, especially in volleyball season. My volleyball coaches never took to kindly to me missing the first week of practice for the County Fair, another week at the first of September for State Fair, another the first week of October another fair, and finally a week or so to judge at National FFA Convention every year.

More than once I got the speech that I "needed to get my priorities straight" from the coaches. More than once, my response was simply, "I've got my priorities straight, thank you." More than once, my starting spot disappeared before my eyes.

I hated this speech. I was a 5'3 decent 1A athlete with bad ankles. Where was my sports career going? I think the answer was pretty clear. Showing and judging were clearly what was going to increase the savings account, put me partway through college, and ironically prepare me more for law school than anything else I ever did.

Apparently I wasn't the only one who heard this speech, because twice this week this has come up with other people.

First, I read a big article in the paper about New Mexico's own L.J. Jenkins, who rides on the PBR. He's good friends with my little brother, so I try to keep up with how he's doing. Anyway, he was writing about how he played high school basketball at his home town on Texico. He was pretty good--he has to be a natural athlete to be a bull rider for crying out loud--but he got the "priorities straight" speech from his coaches. L.J. is about 5'10. He knew his chances of the NBA weren't good, but his chances at the PBR were. Now, over a million dollars in winnings later, looks like he made the right decision.

Same story came up the other night with a friend from law school. He was talking about how he had played the sax in the junior high band, but also was a multiple-sport star athlete. When he got to high school, practice for the band and basketball were at the same time. You know what came next--the priorities speech from the band teacher. He walked, and ended up playing two different sports in college. Looks like the right decision.

I think this lesson has served me well in life. I learned at 15 to stand up for myself and let people know what my priorities were. I don't think I've ever stopped. I didn't want a job doing a certain thing, so I didn't take it. I changed my mind last minute (more than last minute) about which law school to go to, but I did what I wanted. When I decided I didn't like my specific major, I changed it.

Life's too short. You know what you are good at and what you want in your life. Go after it. You'll probably make the "priorities" speech maker look pretty dumb in the mean time anyway. That's what they call icing on the cake.