Many people reading this post may not be in a season of great blessings. In fact, the opposite is true. Many of you are in the midst of great disappointment.
I understand as I’m dealing with some big disappointments myself right now. I’m optimistic, however, because I have been disappointed many times in the past and oftentimes those disappointments have turned into HUGE blessings. Many of you could say the same thing.
Leaders often find their greatest blessings in the midst of and immediately after their greatest disappointments. For example, I met my wife and also got my dream job both after seasons of great disappointment.
Few things illustrate this principle better than the following story told in Tom Callahan’s great book The GM.
“‘After going to ten straight championship games with Otto Graham at quarterback’ said (Ernie) Accorsi, ‘the Cleveland Browns had their first losing season in 1956 with George Ratterman and Babe Parilli sharing Otto’s old job. At the next draft, Paul Brown was desperate for a quarterback and the Browns were picking sixth. The guy they wanted was Len Dawson.
As the first few picks were rattled off, Mike Brown told me, ‘My dad was, like, he couldn’t breathe.’ Now came the fourth choice. Now came the fifth. The Pittsburgh Steelers took Dawson. With a thud Brown dropped his head on the table. He was despondent. ‘Dad, what are we going to do now?’ Mike whispered. The clock was ticking. In a resigned voice, without tilting his head, Paul said, ‘I guess we’re stuck with Jim Brown.'”
Brown went on to become arguably the greatest football player of all-time.
There are some leaders reading this post who need to hear that story. You are dealing with great disappointment. Stay encouraged, it is highly possible that you are also about to experience your greatest blessing.
Can you relate?
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