Today we are very pleased to share a guest post by national radio host and inspirational speaker Terry Jaymes. Terry Jaymes has over 20 years experience in radio, television and stand-up comedy, and is currently the co-founder and co-host of The Lex and Terry Radio Network. He is also the host of The Terry Jaymes Show which can be heard every week on 97.3 KIRO FM in Seattle.
As fans of Terry’s blog at Terryjaymes.com, where he covers a variety of topics on the value and importance of living an extraordinary life, we asked Terry to explain how risk taking coupled with hard work and commitment to your dreams have lead him to his current success, and to be able to “work” in a field he loves. Below is Terry’s response:
When Beau from Exist Anew reached out to me about my thoughts on risk taking, hard work and throwing yourself into your dream 100% – I was extremely honored.
Just writing the first sentence got my palms all sweaty with excitement. I live for and seek out powerful moments throughout my day. And I’ll take this as an opportunity to do just that.
Hosting a very successful, nationally syndicated radio show didn’t just happen. It’s a vision I had with my first step into a studio. It was right then that I knew I had to give this career a try. The only other time in my life when I had that feeling was when I took my first step onto a basketball court. You know it when you feel it. Your body heats up, you get kind of dizzy and it’s all you ever think about.
The truth is that there are NO RISKS AT ALL. To me “risk” equals fear.
I realize that I’m one of the lucky ones. Not everybody gets that overwhelming feeling of KNOWING. Knowing why you’re on this planet at this time. Sure passions, goals and dreams change. You can’t stop it when it pulls you into a new direction.
For those who don’t know what their purpose is, just sit still. It will come. Be open to everything and try all that comes to mind. Richard Bach has a great quote, “You’re never given a wish without also being given the power to make it come true. You might have to work for it though.” I believe that 100%. I’ve never woken up and said “I’m going to be a brain surgeon.” Why? Because my spirit knows I can’t do it. Instead I’m given thoughts I know I can handle. Take your thoughts and run with them before the other part of your brain starts to talk you out of it.
When you KNOW, hard work isn’t hard at all. It comes with a lot of little victories and huge defeats. But you love it, so who gives a shit. Work means you’re watching the clock so you can get on with something else. When it’s what you love, you look at the clock and realize you haven’t fed the dog in twelve days.
I still love what I’m doing very much. There are haters and really bad times, but you don’t notice them as much when love is behind it.
I have something else that is gnawing at me right now. It will effect a lot of people in my life. But I have to do it. One of the elements that is needed for me to get there is to be physically fit again. For the past 10 years I’ve been at least 15-20 pounds overweight. I’ve struggled with it like so many others. But my new passion has made it easy to recently drop 22 pounds with another 7 to follow.
When it’s important, you make it happen and it’s not work at all.
