Be Careful What You Wish For – the NBA Dream

Seth Godin wrote a blog titled, Be careful what you wish for 

It goes like this:

Be careful what you wish for…

You might not get it.

But as you pursue this wish, you’ll change what you do, what you see, who you connect with and the sacrifices you make along the way.

Our wishes change us.

***

Sometimes I’ll take a call from someone who is desperate to work in the NBA.  I’ll ask them about their career paths, their dreams, their hopes and they’ll tell me how it’s always been a dream to work in the NBA.

But as I listen to them, I hear something else.  I hear the passion as they share about their high school team or the job at a University.  The family at home they have time with.  Their newborn child. 

And yet, they’re ready to drop it all to chase the dream.

And that’s when I let them know, it’s okay not to.  If you love what you’re doing, maybe you’ve already made it?  Maybe chasing the NBA dream led you to the spot where you’re at right now, fulfilled, satisfied, and growing.

I’d never tell someone not to pursue their dream.  But I also think it is always wise to count the cost.  Pursuing the dream of working in the NBA will change every step you make along the way.  Where you live, who your friends are, the community groups you’re a part of, the money you make (or don’t make), the time you have with family.  Everything.  Everything changes. 

And if you’re right out of college and ready to make a sacrifice and pack your bags and chase a dream, go for it. 

If you’ve already built a career that you love, a family that you help support, and a community you love living in… at least be leery of chasing the dream you thought you always had.  You might have found what you’re looking for along the way.