Do your best. Don’t be satisfied with just “going through the motions”. I am a big believer in applying yourself, and focusing your efforts in areas that you are passionate about. Many people do not possess the talent to do everything well. I have seen many people who can do a lot of things okay, but they are not really great at anything in particular. Instead, I want to be someone who is great at something.
Greatness is a difficult thing to achieve
I recommend pushing yourself until you get there. Look for inspiration from others who have achieved greatness. Athletes like Pele or Michael Phelps come to mind. Musicians like Mozart or Eddie Van Halen. I am not saying that they are great people. I have never met any of them, so I do not know. Rather I am saying that they are great at what they do. Pele revolutionized the game of soccer. Michael Phelps is the greatest swimmer and Olympic champion ever. Mozart was a musical genius, and Eddie Van Halen plays wicked guitar.
What should I pursue to be the best I can be?
The hard part for me has been figuring out what I do well so that I can pursue my talents with a relentless passion to be the best that I can. I have already shared with you some of my passions, now it is time for you to identify your own. I will do my best to support you in your passions, and I am relying on you to do your part…do your best.
Look at a day when you are supremely satisfied at the end. It’s not a day when you lounge around doing nothing; it’s when you’ve had everything to do, and you’ve done it.
Margaret Thatcher
I am Doug Keating and this is my letter to sons.