There comes a point in our life, when we take stock of our life situation. We realize we didn’t get what we set out to achieve or recognized for what we are worth. The struggles we go through in our day-to-day existence pales into insignificance compared to the inner turmoil or disappointment we feel inside. I hear someone say, “We all have ambitions, but very few have talents.” But I am talking about the few who have talents, but who either didn’t get an opportunity to show their merits or they have shown their merits but are not rewarded adequately enough or some quirk of fate intervened.

Those of you who have seen the movie Deal and the part played by Burt Reynolds will understand what I mean. Though he was a gifted player at the Poker table he was not destined to achieve greatness in his time. He happened to lose everything, and to preserve whatever is left, (including his relationship with his wife) he maintains his promise to his wife that he will never play cards for the rest of his life. And for the next 20 years he chose to remain as a spectator. But every time he sees someone achieving championship at the game of Poker shown on TV, we could see the pain in his face. It appeared to me, that he was saying to himself, “It could easily have been me on the TV lifting that championship trophy.”

In order not to break his promise and thereby hurt his wife’s feelings, he sets out to train his protégé. Though in the movie, it is shown that he is motivated by the money; my feeling is he was living his life through his protégé. Seeing the amazing success his protégé has (with a few simple tricks he learnt from his mentor) at the table, the player in Burt Reynolds decides to go for it again. But this time alone and all by himself. That meant risking his marriage even. We are told that he was going after the cup that he didn’t win. And that he was reclaiming his lost dignity.

I am sure it will strike a chord in all of us, who are still in the race, hoping to make it big one day. Tiger Woods, Warren Buffett have claimed their cups but we haven’t. You have not heard of me other than through this blog which is nothing and I don’t know you, the gentleman or the lady who happens to read this blog. Of course I am thankful for your time, but wouldn’t it be great if you are famous and in some way extremely talented in your chosen field and have a few words to share with the rest of us?

Incidentally those of you on the verge of giving up, or have already given up; I recommend this article from Fortune to read. I guarantee you it will be worth your while. Either you will be back in the race or running ahead of us. Good Luck.
read. I guarantee you it will be worth your while. Either you will be back in the race or running ahead of us. Good Luck.