Episode Notes
Podcast with Darren Scherbain
If you cant play BIG don’t even bother playing small.
These word of wisdom, that absolutely resonate to my core, were handed down to me from Jim.
Jim, who is also from Winnipeg Canada, grew up playing hockey in Wilcox Saskatchewan.The Notre Dame Hounds, a hockey team ,belong to a catholic boarding school in the middle of the Canadian Prairies.
The Hounds produce exceptional hockey players but also empathetic well rounded young adults. Anyone who has spent a winter on the Canadian prairies has had first hand experience with what it means when we say bone chilling cold, hope and resolve.
One day, Jim is in class just giving his class mate a real hard time. Jim is picking on this kid and doing his best to tear him down.Suddenly…. Jim feels a hand on his shoulder.
Jim looks up and is greeted by a firm and fair look of disapproval.
James, the voice beckoned.
James, the stern yet compassionate voice continued,……..IF YOU CAN’T PLAY BIG DON’T EVEN BOTHER PLAYING SMALL!
What exactly does it mean to play BIG?
If you don’t stand for something then you are constantly going to get blown around like the sand in the wind. Swept up and scattered around until the next rendezvous with wishing it were different.
Playing Big is making that shift from being ME centred into a collective We centred.
Ask any of the riders who stood face to face with each of kilometres of the 700kms for Ride4Kids ………what was their Why?
Each Why would be as varying as the riders out on the road.
Infused into each Why would be the colloquial bond of hope. Hope is something we all share.
Hope is the spark for playing Big and the catalyst for putting one foot after another. One foot after the other; even when the torrential rain and wind are doing their best to test your resolve. After you wiped the sweat, rain, grit from your eyes and survived the wobble from the tottering wind you realize that Playing Big is an inside job.
Playing Big, hope, inspiration and to some extent character and integrity are all noble concepts. It’s one thing to idolize noble concepts and they do make a cute little Instagram post. That cute little post isn’t going to validate your case; when you are asked to embrace struggle as a means to growth and more importantly to put your ass in the arena.
It’s NEXT LEVEL to embrace and to commit to the sheer physicality of putting your ass in the arena. The “fire crotch”, drained legs and self doubt are all a part of the process and shouldn’t be interpreted as you are doing something erroneous.
It’s easy to Play Big when it follows the perfect plan and all the pieces fit so conveniently in your neat and tidy little box.
Can you still Play Big when you are squeezed?
Being squeezed comes in many different shapes, sizes and is usually followed by digging your heels in the sand….screaming THIS SHOULDN’T BE HAPPENING TO ME!
If you really want to be taken seriously then throw in a “THIS ISN’T FAIR”.
Usually the one’s arguing for these virtuous concepts of justice and fairness are left sitting on the curb watching as the White Stetsons ride on by.
The White Stetson isn’t going to be handed out to those who are afraid of a little work.
Spending my summers on a farm, on the Canadian prairies, I was taught many valuable lessons. An honest day’s work was a full day of work. Your word was your bond; what you did was far more important then what you said you would do. There was no reap without the sow.
Self reliance and rugged determination wasn’t something that you could pick up from your weekly visit to the post office; it required patience and persistence.
On the farm I was taught to roll up my sleeves and honour our word. Blisters were formed on our hands from chucking hay bales all day and picking rocks in the field. Feeding the auger’s insatiable appetite would leave us choking on the soot in the grain barn. Finishing a job; meant you finished the job. The chickens were not impressed with your intentions or if you were tired .The bullshit was left to the Charolais, Hereford and Black Angus cows.
One of the inherent truths of PLAYING BIG is that it doesn’t leave any wiggle room for any BULL SHIT. You either play BIG and stand for something or you don’t!
One hundred and sixty kilometres isn’t that big of a deal on paper. A century ride is held in high esteem in the cycling community. It’s what would be described as a Big Ride. The One Hundred and Sixty kilometres that separated Krabi from Surat Thani was a testament to the ferocious commitment to Play Big and make a difference. For a lot of the riders out on the road that day it was their longest ride …EVER.
For those of you unfamiliar with Canadiana; one of her majestic marvels is a Flock of Canadian Geese flying in unison across the crisp prairie maroon sky.
Teamwork.
Collaboration.
That 160km ride was poetry in motion and a synapsis of sharing the 700kms.
That night we cemented our comradery over cold pizza and tales from the road. The smiles on the faces and the look of achievement was inspiring. The smiles were contagious and loaded with hope. Hope and inspiration are a force multiplier.
To all participants, sponsors and all those involved with Ride 4 Kids take a bow with your White Stetsons.
Playing BIG isn’t something you get by moving your mouth; it’s something you bring with making a difference.
This podcast is powered by Pinecast.
