trying to please the masses interferes with our need to make something that matters

​Last night, I had dinner with my sons. I asked my 8th grader, Elliott, how track practice was going. The middle school doesn't have track this year because of COVID, so the 8th graders are running with the high school team.

Elliott gave me his pre-programmed answer to every question I ever ask: "good." Some days I wish my world was as pre-programmed good as he leads me to believe his is every minute of every day.....

But I pressed on.

I asked him if there were any older kids who were making the young guys feel like they belong there. He immediately told me about a 10th grader who has been working with him. He said this kid was on the 8th grade basketball team when Elliott was a 6th grader trying out for the team. This kid took a special interest in him back then - he remembered Elliott - and so he was taking an interest in him now.

The power in that answer was how quickly Elliott could identify one person in response to my question.

I think some days we ourselves get so caught up in trying to please the masses that we can forget just how powerful it can be to impact one person. Seth Godin says, "the practice demands that we seek to make an impact on someone, not everyone."

I think I'm guilty at times of letting my desire to impact and/or please everyone stand in my way of impacting someone.

I've talked before about how I used to write based on what I thought the most people would read. And I've written a few things that a lot of people did read. I've found, though, that a lot of people reading something I've written that didn't come from the heart - that doesn't feel as fulfilling as writing something that one person says after reading it, "I needed that today."

Some days I forget that lesson.

Some days I still long to be a crowd pleaser.

I think we've all been a part of crowds before. I think we've all clapped and screamed for the entertainers pleasing the masses - and there's certainly nothing wrong with that. Until, maybe, the goal becomes to always BE that crowd pleaser.

Because maybe that's when we start to lose sight of the power of someone being asked if there's anyone out there making them feel like they belong, making an impact on them, and without hesitation - they respond that person is you.

A someone who may have forgotten most of the sold out concerts they've ever been to - remembers you.

Your day is calling you to make an impact on someone.

Not everyone.

Today, don't let your desire to please the masses interfere with your ability to make something that matters. Maybe it will only matter to one person - but I assure you - when that one person is your kid - that's a big daggone deal!