Why did he turn down an easy path to success?
Loren Murfield, Ph.D Disruptive Thinker, Author, Speaker, Filmmaker
Thinking Bigger and Reaching Higher to do the Impossible
He had the way to success paved for him. Yet, he chose a different path.?
Why??
Those who follow me appreciate the pivotal stories I tell and how the lessons help them think bigger and reach higher, doing what they never imagined. This blog post tells of a man who defied expectations and made two radical shifts in his life.?
Pivot #1: Defying family expectations.?
Bernard and Rosie Berg saw a bright future for their energetic and intelligent oldest son. Initially delighted to see him gain entry into the prestigious Princeton and become at least proficient in six languages, Moe Berg broke their hearts when he chose to become a baseball player instead of a doctor or lawyer like his siblings.?
Imagine his thinking.?
He defied his self-made pharmacist father and what appeared to be a smooth path to an easy life.?
What was he thinking??
Why would anyone turn down what appears to be a sure path to success?
A parent could understand a son's alternate choice if he would have a sure path to success in his chosen field. While Moe loved baseball and was a good college player, he was never good enough to become a regular starter in the major leagues.?
Isn't it reckless to forfeit the sure path for an unproven passion?
However, he was charismatic and made friends in all five of the teams where he played. His outgoing personality may have helped him survive 16 years in the major leagues, endearing him to his teammates, the media, and even politicians.?
Pivot #2: A return to his senses?
In the off-season, he earned a law degree at Columbia University, took graduate level courses at Paris's Sorbonne University, and even worked in a law firm. From the looks of it at that point, he was setting himself up nicely for a career in law after his playing days were over.?
But instead, after retiring as a player in 1939, he made the next logical step for a baseball player by becoming a manager.?
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If you are thinking like me, you might ask, why didn't he go into law??
Pivot #3: Who saw that coming??
With World War II raging in 1942, Berg heard about an opportunity to travel the world and serve his country. He seemed perfectly qualified with his high intellect, affable personality, and understanding of so many languages. But who would have expected that this backup professional catcher would become a spy??
Who saw that coming??
Beginning in South America and the Caribbean, he longed for more action and applied for a transfer to Europe. There he served a unique role, hobnobbing with scientists because he could speak the language and understood the concepts. One specific task was to track the Nazi's atomic bomb progress.?
Your Pivotal Challenge
In what ways are you following your passion?
How does that violate the expectations of those closest to you?
How does that allow you to reach so high that you do what you and others never imagined?
I am Loren Murfield, Ph.D., helping clients think bigger and reach higher to create pivotal opportunities. Check out my book on Pivotal Living and Working.?
Pivotal Living and Working details the steps needed to create your breakthrough success. In this relatively quick and easy read, you will find what it takes to pivot your personal life.
You will also find what it takes to pivot your working life.
Our current times give us no other choice but to become pivotal, continually shifting to find our next, great opportunity. Begin your pivot into your ultimate success by reading this book and adopting the principles.