Sital Ruparelia

“You’re sitting on a winning lottery ticket – but you’re too big a pussy to cash it in.”

Apologies for the slightly course language, but this is a direct quote from one of my favourite films – ‘Goodwill Hunting‘ staring Matt Damon, Robin Williams, Ben Affleck and Minnie Driver.

Matt Damon is cast as Will, a janitor working in a university whilst living on his own in a sparse apartment. But he’s also a genius with an amazing gift. He has a brilliant ability for solving highly complex mathematical problems. Complex algebra which he effortlessly solves whilst many of the undergraduates and even the university professor struggle to solve.

Having found out about his gift, the professor tries to mentor him with the help of a psychologist (Robin Williams). And eventually line up a series of interviews for a host of impressive jobs so that Will can utilize his talents.

But regardless of the help and opportunities laid before him, Will throws it back in their face. He’s content to stay where he is within his comfort zone – same job, same apartment, same friends.

That is until his best friend Chuckie (Ben Affleck) shows him some tough love one day with some straight talking:

“You’re sitting on a winning lottery ticket – but you’re too big a pussy to cash it in…….I’d do anything to have what you’ve got – so would any of these guys here…..it would be an insult to us if you’re still here in 20 years (doing the exact same thing).”

What a great friend is he?!!

And how true is that statement of many people…?

As I’ve said before (here and here), we’ve all got genius talent buried within us. We’ve all got our very own lottery tickets waiting to be cashed in. Some people are on a journey to discover what that talent it is, whilst others have already found it. But just like Will in the film, they find themselves holding back from cashing it in.

Whilst it’s much easier to accept the status quo and stay where you are, accepting your talents and, indeed, turning up the volume on those talents is a lot more scarier than it sounds.

But sooner or later there will be a catalyst that forces you to take action and cash it in. Maybe it’s a friend like Chuckie, maybe your personal or professional circumstances change or maybe you watch or read something like this blog post that makes you take action.

Whatever the catalyst is for you, just remember; every successful person in history has accepted their brilliance instead of being embarassed by it. So although your career may at times seem like a lottery, when your numbers do come up and you discover that talent, instead of holding back, cash it in.

To see the 2 minute clip from Goodwill Hunting I’m referring to, see below

(Warning: there’s quite a lot swearing in the clip – so if you’re sitting near children or easily offended, please do not click the link)