This is Only a Test

Hello I’m life coach Peter Winslow. The following is a test conceived by Charles Schultz, the creator of the “Peanuts” comic strip. As a life coach I often give this test to my clients as a tool to empower their self-image and self-esteem. Are you ready?

1. Name the five wealthiest people in the world.

2. Name the last decade's worth of World Series winners.

3. Name the last five winners of the Miss America pageant.

4. Name six people who have won the Nobel Prize.

5. Name the last five Academy Award winners for best actor and actress.

How did you do?

The point here is that none of us really remember the headliners of yesterday. Yet these are no second-rate achievers; they are the best in their fields. But the applause eventually dies, awards tarnish, achievements are forgotten, and accolades and certificates get buried with their owners.

Here's another quiz. See how you do on this one:

1. List a few teachers who aided your journey through school.

2. Name one friend who helped you through a difficult time.

3. Think of five people who have taught you something worthwhile.

4. Name three people who made you feel appreciated.

5. Think of five people you enjoy spending time with.

Easier?

That’s because the people who make a major difference in our lives are not the ones with the most credentials, the most money, or the most awards. They are the ones who most care.

The lesson? Don’t look back at the accolades you thought you should have gotten or the awards you should have won. Don’t even look back at the compliments you deserved to receive. Invest instead in a new tool for unlocking your potential and breaking through previous limitations. That tool is your ability to care, and to share it with someone who has never realized what for them is truly possible.

–Peter Winslow