“Yet” is an adverb that is defined as: ‘up until the present
or a specified or implied time; by now or then. An adverb is a word or phrase
that modifies or qualifies an adjective, verb, or other adverb or a word group,
expressing a relation of place, time, circumstance, manner, cause, degree,
etc. “Not” is an adverb defined as, “used with an auxiliary verb or “be” to
form the negative.” Therefore, “Not Yet” in a simplified form is “the opposite
of now.” There is a Bible verse in Hebrews 11:1 that states, “Now faith is the
substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” This is how I
have gone from “Not Now” to “Not Yet” to “Now Achieved.”
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| Jerry 'D-Rhino' Clark and I |
The first part of my journey begins with a “Not Now”
reality. In the year 1996, I accidentally and on purpose found myself working with
a major litigation support company in their Information Technology department
as a “Systems Support” technician. While I loved the service I performed, the director
of the department informed me, that I had reached the plateau of growth within
the department and no other raises or promotions were possible told the job as
a whole left me unfulfilled and me. As the years went by my desire to improve
myself caused me to seek resources in the form of books and audio programs that
would teach me new concepts and give me new ideas on how to live a fuller life.
This search led me to an old high school friend, Jerry “D-Rhino” Clark that in
December of 2000 was hosting what he called “The Self-Mastery Boot Camp” in
Dallas, Texas. Although I had not seen him in nearly 20 years this “boot camp” would
be the first of many workshops I would attend in my life. I sat and listened
attentively to every presenter that spoke. I took copious notes and seized the
opportunity to ask questions at every turn. One of the presenters by the name
of Artemis Limpert said something that would alter the course of my life when
she shared with those in attendance, “If you can’t go back then you must go
forward. And if you must go forward, failure is not an option. And if failure
is not an option, you will succeed.” That statement caused me to think that
everyone must meet his or her goals in life to be truly happy in life. This
thought caused me to quickly leave my seat and retreat to my hotel room where I
secured the internet domain name www.MeetTheGoal.com.
After the end of the day’s section of learning and development, while on the
way to dinner I said to my friend as we rode to the Olive Garden restaurant, “Jerry
one day I am going to speak at one of your boot camps!” After his laughter subsided
and he reminded me that “we hadn’t seen one another in 20 years” and that “people
pay a lot of money to speak at my boot camps, but hey you never know.” I
quietly sat thinking yes, not now but one day I will. In the video by CarolDweck called “The power of believing that you can improve” she said “…Not Yet,
you understand that you are on a learning curve, it gives you a path into the
future” and this thought serves as the foundation of my story.
The next part of my journey continues with a “Not Yet” moment.
Nearly one year after attending my first boot camp hosted by Jerry, he called
me and asked me would I be willing to speak at his upcoming boot camp and tell
the students about our lives prior to the success level he had reached. After agreeing,
I reminded him of the conversation we had a year earlier in the car ride to
dinner and he said “wow isn’t that fascinating how things work?” After my
presentation at the boot camp, Artemis Limpert
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| Artemis Limpert |
who had at that point become one
of my mentors approached me and said “Rodney you have something,
I don’t know what it is but you have a gift and you should seriously consider
teaching for a living…” I was blown away by her words because my Not Now had
turned into Not Yet because that event was my first time speaking publicly in
my life. It was time now for me to set a goal to become a paid motivational speaker
and trainer. While still working in Information Technology I began giving
unpaid talks to Boys and Girls Clubs, after school programs, graduations and
online interviews in my quest to reach the goal I had set before me. Mrs.
Limpert was right that I “had something” but I just didn’t know how I would
make the transition to full time speaking. One of the programs that I delivered
to Charles R. Drew University Saturday Science Academy was called 7-Steps to Grow a Child of Greatness and after completing the 7-part workshop, I realized
that I also needed a systematic plan to go from local presenter to global speaker.
Was I ready? Not Yet! Did I have a plan? Yes! |
| Mr. Motivator Les Brown and I |
Being a student is the first step to being a teacher. What
was once a Not Now moment, that lead to a Not Yet reality, soon would lead to a
Now Achieved situation. As I continued my journey to increase my abilities as a
speaker, I attended a speakers training workshop hosted by Mr. Les Brown. At
one of the break moments Mr. Brown spoke to me directly and asked me the
following question: “Rodney are you going to die with your gifts in you?” After
replying “no sir!” He then commanded me to “get out of that windowless office,
toiling away for money and go help some people.” He continued, “Someone is
waiting for you to show up. Someone’s entire life is hinging on you, showing
up.” This talk by Mr. Brown ultimately led to me resigning from Information
Technology as a worker and starting my own company teaching others how to use
the technology.
By having what Mrs. Dweck called a “growth mindset” over “a
fixed mindset” allowed me to see a possibility, set a goal to reach and perform
the necessary actions to achieve the goal. Yes Mrs. Dweck I agree that there is
“power” in “believing that” I “can improve.” My desire to overcome what the
director of I.T. said so many years ago that I had reached the “plateau of
growth within the department and no other raises or promotions were possible,”
I knew that if I wanted to go beyond his “fixed mindset” I would need
additional education and up to date skills. Two years ago I set an intention or
goal to “get off the road and go to school for Information Security.” In
January of 2017, I began my first classes toward achieving that goal. As I near
the conclusion of my first semester at Glendale Community College, I can tell
you that setting goals and actively engaging learning that gets you closer to
that goal is a formula that works. As I take the next steps toward what will ultimately
lead to a BS in Information Security from Arizona State University, I am
reminded that it all started with a Not Yet that led to a Not Now that
ultimately leads to a Now Achieved reality…if I just stay the course.
