Just Ask

Yesterday afternoon I went to meet an old friend of mine. I'd asked her earlier in the week if she wouldn't mind sharing a story about growing up in Oakland for a website I'd been working on geared towards promoting positive news in the area. Thankfully, she agreed and off we went. "I've been giving this a lot of thought," she told me.

I set my recorder down on the coffee table as her 7-month old son Toshiro bounced on her lap. Within seconds she shared with me a remarkable story about her family's history in Oakland. Evidently, her grandfather ran an illegal gambling ring with tables that turned into the walls. It was something out of a movie.

As she delved into more serious topics like the hardships her family experienced during World War II like the internment of Japanese Americans and the relocation of thousands and thousands of families, I got a sense of the gratitude she had for their enormous sacrifices. She beamed when relaying anecdotes of her mother's work ethic and grandparents' determination to give their children a better life.

I left her home grateful for her time and marveled how open she was about her family's struggles. It then dawned on me that I'd experienced the same situation on numerous occasions: in noisy coffee shops, onboard planes, BBQs, and even before an audition.

I realized people have inspiring and interesting stories they want to tell. They're just waiting for someone to ask.

Kaizen

This Labor Day morning as I drove towards my favorite coffee shop to wrap up some work, I listened attentively to comedian Steve Martin narrate his book, Born Standing Up. A great read by the way.

What I love most about this book, or any now that I think about it, is the honest and authentic voice truly bold writers speak from. Martin is not shy or ashamed of sharing his setbacks, failures, successes, or even the stormy relationship between he and his father. Through transparency one gains empathy, connection, and perhaps most importantly, trust.

As I cruised past Lake Merritt in search of parking, I heard him say, "Persistence is an amazing substitute for talent." He admits to not having any discernible or innate skill for singing, acting, or even comedy. Instead, it was an ability he honed by relentlessly pounding on his craft every day for years and years on end.

It made me think of a word the Japanese like to use - Kaizen. It literally translates to, "change for better." The philosophy behind Kaizen is big results come from many small changes accumulated over time. I have found this to be a life-changing philosophy.

After several minutes of finding the perfect spot, I was able to set the parking break on a precipitous hill. As I shut the car off and began to mentally outline my day, I thought about the potent force one could be if they had both talent and the discipline to be consistent. Unstoppable, I thought. Totally unstoppable.