The Thought that Kills 99% of Magic

I stared at the throng of people in the room with me.

Adults and children of all ages sat in the reception area.

I didn’t know what I was doing here.

In fact, I had no business being in this place at all.

The most acting experience I had was in college that one summer when I picked theater as an elective while I was preparing for the MCATs.

Yet here I was.

“I’ve got no chance here.”, I thought.

I took one more look at the door, pondering whether I should leave.

“Are you Vincent?”

I turned.

“Yes.”

The director smiled.

The first penguin

You ever watch those documentaries about planet Earth?

The ones where David Attenborough narrates with a hypnotic rhythm and cadence.

He weaves a compelling story about every creature featured in every episode.

I might be getting this wrong, but there’s one where a bunch of penguins are hanging out on the ice shelf, all standing around the edge peering into the water.

Then, one jumps in.

The first penguin.

It takes the risk of the unknown and the dangers beneath the surface.

Seals, polar bears, killer whales…

but it gets first pick of the fish are there as well.

Once it jumps in, others follow suit.

Magic.

Imagine if it had thought to itself, “ah someone else will do it eventually.”

Imagine if all the other penguins thought the same thing.

They’d all starve.

It’s that mentality that kills 99% of the possible wonderful moments in life for us.

It’s why people stand around staring as scenes of death and destruction happen before their very eyes.

This mindset that someone else is going to make it happen.

Usually someone does, and it’s those people that make a difference.

Orient yourself towards taking action as opposed to watching others do it.

Be the first penguin.

Who knows what lies beyond?

I made a split second decision that night in the theater to be the first penguin.

That audition lead to a two year stint as an actor and choreographer.

It gave me the confidence to start swing dance.

Dance lead me to meeting my wife.

The vast majority of people miss so many opportunities they choose to ignore things that could lead to something different but wonderful.

The simple antidote to this poison?

• Jump in.

• Speak up.

• Take action.

I’m not saying to force it every single time, but do it more often than you’re comfortable with.

It’s a muscle worth exercising.

It could change your life in ways you never thought possible.

When was your last “first penguin” moment?