You're not always going to be the first choice.

I was venting to a mentor about being passed over for a fellowship. Not my finest moment. He very matter-of-factly said, Well you’re not always going to be the first choice. Tom Brady was passed by the patriots 5 times before they chose him.

I did not know that. I'm not a Patriots fan. But I know what Brady built in New England. Six championships over two decades. A legacy that wasn’t limited by where he placed in that draft class.

He took what was handed to him and became a franchise player anyway. Not in spite of being passed over. Just... regardless of it.

I've been thinking about that word. Regardless. It’s so weighty for founders working within a system not designed for you. Doing it in spite of the all the external forces telling you to stop, not to mention the internal voices.

I’m not a huge sports fan but the more I thought about that conversation the more I found parallels to Black history. All the names we know and the ones we don’t continued, regardless. And they were told explicitly that they were NEVER going to be the choice. And they still wrote, and sang and made art. Weaved gold from straw.

In that light my internal dialogue tilted to remind myself (and you) that your possibilities aren’t limited by anyone else’s decision. That your effort doesn’t change. And to focus my energy and will on what’s possible what’s next instead of on the “should’ves”

That’s all I got. Short one this week

Talk soon
Kelly

P.S. June Supper Club is coming. Stay tuned for details!