identitySPECIALIST

I had dinner with Kevin Smith – not the Kevin Smith from DC Talk, not Kevin Smith that is Silent Bob. Just Kevin Smith – a music director that I had in college. I have not seen him in 13 years, but I have used and reused many of the lessons and conversations that we have had years ago. You see Kevin saw something in me years ago. Kevin told me about me years ago. He knew what I could become, what my potential was. Not only that, he took a chance on putting me on one of his teams 15 years ago.
As we got to talk last night, I was struck by the fact that he has impacted so many people. There are tons of people that I can think of that “traveled” for Kevin that are doing some pretty amazing things around the country. Not only did he have impact on me, but on so many individuals that have incredible impact in their area.
I share this for really 2 lessons for me.
The first is that I learned some of these lessons 15 years ago. I remember conversations that I had with him – that he doesn’t even remember having, but they had such a tremendous impact on me that I am able to use them – even years later. Sometimes the lessons that we teach those around us have to be seen as a lay-away plan; there might be some immediate impact, but it might also take time and maturity to fully grasp the lesson.
Second, I get to be Kevin for many of my students. I have some of the same conversations. I get to impact students and speak into their lives. I get to tell students about their potential, and I can be instrumental in bringing that out of them. I remember the lessons and line it up with what I am able to do now. I am able to do the same for some of my students. 15 years ago when I started talking with Kevin, he couldn’t tell me what my leadership position was going to be. In fact, he was a bit surprised when I told him what I get to do now and what I’ve been able to do in the past few years. He didn’t have that type of insight that described what I was going to do – just that I had the potential for it. I have had a few Kevin Smith’s in my life. I get to be Kevin Smith to some others. Who’s your Kevin Smith?