Second Chances; New Perspectives, Better Outcomes, Fresh Starts

Did you know that by now over 98% of Americans have given up on their New Year’s resolutions? It’s true; the majority of people who identify resolutions also completely abandon them. How are you handling the stress of the year? Are you among the 2% staying true to your goals and aspiration for the year? If not, you are obviously not alone, and you should know that it’s not too late for a second chance!
If we really think about it, we have all had and given so many second chances. I have been pondering the concept of second chances and how we need to be open to them. A second chance is an opportunity to correct a bad decision, prove yourself again, redeem shortcomings. It is the recognition that you don't always fulfill your potential in one installment and that you need another chance to finish what you aimed to do. Giving someone a second chance lets them know that you believe in them and are putting the ball in their court to prove it to themselves.
Perhaps you have lost your job recently or maybe your club had to “cut-back” to make the budget work? Is finding a new job a second chance? Is making hard a decision to ensure your business’s viability a second chance? You bet. Second chances come in many varieties.
I asked a friend what second chances meant to him and he said that a second chance was surviving a stroke and being able to hold his grandchildren again. Now that’s a second chance!
Another individual wrote to me and revealed that his second chance was pulling himself out of the bottle. So many have felt the powerful fulfillment of triumphing over alcoholism—and those who haven’t are reminded that every day is another chance. Many have struggled out of homelessness or severe debt. What about the legal offender who has paid his debt to society for committing a crime? Rehabilitation, restitution and second chances are privileges we exercise – with a nod to our humanity -- to empower us to rise above whatever situation, circumstance, vice or decision that has rendered us in need of another go-round.
The very gift of second chances was in the forefront of my mind as I watched one of the best movies I have seen. One blustery evening I went to see the movie “Blind Side,” and I was floored by the powerful story and the amazing standard of decency that the characters lived. The movie is based on the true story of Michael Oher, who is now the successful left defensive tackle for the Baltimore Ravens.
In a nutshell, Michael was from a broken home and grew up in a neighborhood that seemed full of crime and drugs. One cold day, a lady saw Michael walking in a tee shirt and shorts – she offered to give him some basic help. She took Michael home and gave him clean sheets and a couch to sleep on. Eventually Michael became part of their family and he had a bed of his own, which was something he had never had before. In his new surroundings, he excelled in football and in academics. Today, Michael Oher is #74 of the Baltimore Ravens, and now reportedly one of the highest paid players on the team.
The story of Michael Oher made me think, “Wow! What a second chance at life!”
As we progress through this year, we will inevitably experience many changes – professional, personal, financial, etc. And we will all likely experience a second chance. Alvin Troffler wrote, “Change is not merely necessary to life – it is life.” If we are able to view change as a second chance at something we are going through or as a new viewpoint, we can welcome it with a bit more excitement. You may be experiencing a change in your business. Maybe your business is getting a second chance through a renovation or new professional staff. Springtime is a second chance for golf courses – every year. While we often approach change with trepidation, it often opens doors and clears paths for opportunity.
As leaders, we see the opportunity and the need for second chances. Sometimes we just need the opportunity for a first chance. Many of our staff members are in transition. This transition may be towards leadership or to another job. A friend of mine, Kevin MacDonald, President and Head Coach of Clarity Success Coaching and The Extraordinary Leader says this: It’s easy being ordinary – why not be extraordinary!
As you work through your daily life, I urge you to stop and look at the horizon. Is there someone you work with, live with or are just an acquaintance to that needs a second chance? Have they earned it? Have you? Is there potential? Can you both benefit from the second chance? Would it be extraordinary?
Where are you with your New Year’s resolutions? Perhaps you want to review, revise and redirect your resolve for a better shot at success? It’s not too late for a second chance – it’s not too late to give or receive a second chance.
Think of something you can do today to help someone else or your club. It will make you a better person, and it feels great!