From Wikipedia Public Domain

In reviewing videos, bios, and books on some great motivators this month, I happened across some videos of Will Smith.  And while my initial goal was to focus on a certain era, I was so impressed with some of his wisdom that I had to share it with you.  You know him as a comedian, actor, and musician, but check him out as the motivator.  In the following quotes, Will Smith speaks on, Talent and Skill, Being Realistic, Making a Choice, Focus, Fear, Preparedness, and Protecting Your Dreams.

1. Talent and Skill

“The separation of talent and skill is one of the greatest misunderstood concepts for people who are trying to excel, who have dreams …  There is no easy way around it. No matter how talented you are, your talent is going to fail you if you are not skilled.   If you don’t study, if you don’t work really hard and dedicate yourself to being better every single day, you’ll never be able to communicate with people the way you want.”  “Talent, you have naturally. Skill is only developed by hours and hours and hours of beating on your craft.”

2. Being Realistic

“Being realistic is the most commonly traveled road to mediocrity.  Why would you be realistic?  What’s the point of being realistic?  I’m going to do it.  It’s done!  It’s already done the second I decide to do it.  It’s done.  Now we just have to wait for yall to see it.”

3. Making a Choice

“There’s a redemptive power that making a choice has.  Rather than feeling like you’re an effect to all the things that are happening.  Make a choice. Just decide, what’s it going to be, who you’re going to be, how you’re going to do it?  Just decide and from that point the universe is going to get out of your way.”

4. Focus

“I realize that to have the level of success that I want to it’s difficult to spread it out and do multiple things. It takes such a desperate obsessive focus.  You’ve got to focus with all your fiber, your heart, and all of your creativity.”

“You don’t have to have a Plan B because it distracts from Plan A.”

5. Fear

“I’m motivated by fear.  I hate being scared to do something.  I think what developed in my early days is that I started attacking things I was afraid of.  You can’t be scared to die for the truth.”

6. Preparedness

“Stay ready and you don’t have to get ready.”

7. Protect Your Dreams (from the Movie, ‘Pursuit of Happyness’) 

“Don’t ever let somebody tell you, you can’t do something, not even me.  You got a dream, you got to protect it.  People who can’t do something themselves, they want to tell you, you can’t do it.  You want something, go get it. Period!”

Barbara Talley is a keynote speaker, author of six books, and trainer on value-based living themes.  She also offers Effective Communication, Diversity, Leadership, Time Management, and Goal Setting workshops.  Visit her at www.thepoetspeaks.com or contact her at 301-428-4831.  You may email her at Barbara@ThePoetSpeaks.com.