For 22 years I have had a chalk board/dry erase board that covers the wall I look at every day. Years ago whenever a family member or friend came to my office…I asked them to sign the bottom half. There are signatures now from loved ones who have passed away as well friends & family cheering me on. Each on left a “foot print” of well wishes for Project Fit America.
A very long time ago I cut out 2 quotes and taped them to this board….one reads: There is no overnight success…but there is success…the harder you work the luckier you get……
The other reads: Don’t judge each day by the harvest you reap, but by the seeds you plant-Robert Louis Stevenson.
Every year I wipe the top half of this board clean…and walk into a blank canvas each January. It is an odd feeling that I have never made friends with. It feels uneasy and restless and begs a walk in faith.
You see this top half of the board is where we track our donations, high accounts, grants pending, number of cold calls made, grants to launch etc…this board is lifeblood of Project Fit America…and as we fill it up…we open the door to new communities, schools, parents, sponsors and most of all kids.
It is a job we do virtually unnoticed, under the radar…this plowing the field and planting the seed stuff is not sexy. It is damn straight hard work. Yet each and every year there are particular elements that set their feet under our table and set up camp in our hearts… right as rain…passion…followed by passion’s friend inspiration and bringing up the rear…to drive this all to a place where no one can stop a really good idea….drive and determination.
This gathering is a force to recon with. It is true…the harder you work the luckier you get…and the seed planted is a powerful thing…in combination there it becomes our manifesto and the reason why we do what we do so well.
2012 bring it on! We are excited to plow the “fertile fitness soil” that will paint a child’s health fantastic and allow them to launch in the healthy adulthood every child deserves!
Awesome and very inspirational. Good thing I come from good solid farming stock of a family and am not afraid to work hard. Let’s plow some fields together! Ready to stir up my own “fitness soil” as well so thank you.