Why I don't want to win.

"I just played it safe. Those [contests] are representations of me being conservative, not doing what I could have done, because I just wanted to win..." -Rodney Mullen

We could all use some words of wisdom, that foster a sense of belief in ourselves, that can unlock the potential that each one of us have, and help us remember why we do what we do.

As a kid, I grew up with my own unique challenges, all of us do. Skateboarding became my outlet for my adolescent and teenage angst. I never considered myself that great of skater, same when it came to writing, but, in each, it taught me to never give up, to pick myself up when I've fallen, to help others when they've fallen, and how a community of creators, regardless of who they are, can come together to express and do what they love.

Rodney Mullen a.k.a "the godfather of street skateboarding" was my favorite skater growing up. Winning his first contest at the age of 14, he went on to win 34 out of 35 contests the following decade! The guy invented the flat ground Ollie, the kick flip, the heel flip, among a whole litany of other tricks! Okay, maybe that's a lot of exclamations I'm using. Let's just say he's a really, really good skater...

A couple of years ago I was in a pretty dark place in my life, and looking for something that could bring me back to the light. I was in college and was doing fairly well, but I was lonely, depressed, and didn't understand why. It was at this time, that I came across an episode of Impact Theory, featuring Rodney Mullen and hosted by Tom Bilyeu (co-creator of Impact Theory and founder of Quest Nutrition). This episode was a blessing in my time of need. I now frequently watch and love all of the Impact theory episodes I have watched and I highly, highly recommend them to ANYONE.

You would think this episode would be about skating, huh? Well, a little bit, but not really... There are almost no words that could encapsulate this episode and its depth. Let me just tell you, no matter who you are or where you are in your life, this is a must see! This episode changed my outlook, in a positive note, on skating, creating, success, relationships, and life in general. Regardless of whether you like skateboarding or not, this episode will empower your mindset, unlock your full creative potential, and, possibly, change your life.

"Can you name the last Nobel Prize winners and the Olympians..? but you can name that 5th grade teacher that had faith in you, right? It's the people you touch singularly, that's the a bigger test in a way."- Rodney Mullen

Maybe me saying, "I don't want to win" is a bit hyperbolic, actually that would be nice, but really I just want share something that had a really powerful impact on my life, that changed how I see and understand the world, and hoping it helps even one individual in their time of need.