Crossing the Intersection of Persistence and Opportunity

I have been thinking lately, why do I like certain reality TV shows so much? I have concluded that the shows that really get me going are those where a persons character is challenged. The type of show where people are forced to make hard decisions to become better people. The type of show where I get to witness the person cross the intersection of Persistence and Opportunity.

I'm sure plenty of you can relate with all of this. For example: American Idol, Biggest Loser, The Contender, Survivor and the Office! (sorry the Office was just a joke-its a funny show though) People on these shows have a goal and we get to witness a short part of their journey where all of their hard work just might pay off. When Persistence crosses the intersection of Opportunity.

It's almost as if you are in the trenches just working as hard as you can, then you look around and realize you are getting dirty, you are all alone and then you begin to doubt: Can I really do this? What if...? I've invested so much of my time, why has it not paid off yet?

But the best thing you can do right then and there is put your head down and persist. Shake the doubt, slap adversity in the face and tell him to get lost-because you are a winner and you are going to make it happen.

After so much persistence and hard work it's as if you arrive to the chasm. Imagine standing in a semi-lit location. Everything behind you is dark and right before you is a cloudy wall, you try to see what is ahead but you can't make it out. You don't know what is ahead-it doesn't matter though, because you wouldn't even begin to fathom what therein lies ahead; but your gut tells you to take that leap of faith forward. Trust your gut!

You turn around and look back. You don't see anything but darkness and you think to yourself, "Am I worthy to become what I desire in life?" You don't hesitate for a second. You know what Opportunity has in store for you; it's that one thing that you have wanted all of your life. You leap forward and cross the chasm, but you don't know what is happening, you don't know where you are going, you don't know what you are becoming.

Then BAM! You've done it. All of your hard work paid off, and after forging forward tenaciously on the road of Persistence you hang a sharp left onto the road of Opportunity. This is what I like to call the "Catalyst of Life". It's all you needed just one spark of recognition, of being noticed, the stamp of approval.

This is what happens to people on these shows, like American Idol, Biggest Loser & The Contender, the second they capture that Catalyst their old way of thinking is cut off and now their eyes are open. They see what Opportunity can provide.