Sometimes nothing can be a real cool hand — Luke Jackson

My sophomore year Spring Break trip was among the most electric times of my life. A good friend had access to an amazing yacht, complete with a captain, a cook, and enough beds for all of our friends.  All we had to do was get ourselves to The Bahamas.  Count me in!

Once there, we lived it up like only a group of 19-20-year-old knuckleheads could do.  “Bahama Mama” Happy Hours, sunset cruises, beach games, and clubs.  And each night we returned to “our” yacht for a nightcap and a de-brief of the evening’s festivities!  What’s not to like? 

But by the end of the week, I was starting to run (very!) low on funds, and we still had a few nights of revelry left in the tank.  Not good.  Walking back from the beach, I decided to take a shortcut through the nearby bustling casino.  Strolling dangerously close to the blackjack tables, I suddenly had a brilliant idea that could get me back in business!  I fumbled through my bathing suit pockets but came up with nada.  Then I remembered the “emergency” five-dollar bill I had duct taped to the top of my flip-flop.  Voila!

I rushed up to the $5 minimum blackjack table and took my seat next to a very serious gambler.  He was not pleased to see me.  Undaunted, I took off my shoe, smoothed out the crumpled bill, and confidently handed it to the dealer.

“Count me in!”

The sand from my shoe spilled across the table, irking the gambler even more.  He stared daggers at the dealer.

“Are you really gonna let this kid play?”

The dealer did not hesitate.

“His money is as green as yours…”

Then he looked at me and smiled.

“…and sometimes the greatest success stories come from nothing!”

Let the games begin.  

On the first deal, I stayed in and the dealer busted.  $10.  Then I was dealt a “blackjack”.  Boom!  From there, I went on a heater they may still be talking about in the islands today!  (Well, not really, but it felt that way at the time.)  An hour later, I tipped out the dealer and walked away with $200 in my pocket!  Bahama Mama Rum Drinks on me!

It was a great moment that made an epic trip even sweeter.  But the broader message has lasted a lifetime.  We don’t always need a great backstory to make an impact.  We don’t always need great connections and financial acumen to build a fortune.  Sometimes the greatest success stories come from nothing!

We Have to Lead by Example

In our work lives, it is easy to get intimidated.  Our colleagues may seem to know so much more than us.  Our resumé may not be as polished as our peers.  Our background and experience may be lacking or seemingly irrelevant.  But we can’t let that stop us from speaking up and contributing to the culture.  We all have something unique and meaningful to add to the conversation.  We all have a chance to leave an impactful legacy and lead by example.  We don’t always need a pile of money and a polished pedigree to make our corner of the world a little bit better.

And the same is true in our personal lives.  We don’t always need the strongest role models to become loving parents and mentors.  We don’t always need the best formal education to impart words of wisdom.  We don’t always need a silver spoon to generate a financial windfall.  We don’t always need a solid foundation to build a legacy.  Why sit around and wait for something to change?  There is nothing stopping us from starting our upward journey today. Sometimes the greatest success stories come from nothing!

We Have to Keep Playing the Game

But what happens if we get wiped out in our first blackjack hand?  What happens if we hit rock bottom and are seemingly out of options?  How do we stay resilient when we have so far to climb back up?   This is when a positive mindset can play the greatest role!    We have to realize that past success is not a prerequisite for future success.  We have to realize that anyone is capable of a comeback.  And we have to realize that the only failure is to stop playing the game.

Some of the greatest empires are built from scratch.  Success and happiness are possible for everyone.  If we keep grinding, keep searching for opportunities, and keep fostering our resilient mindset, the odds are in our favor.  Good things happen to good people.  Why not us?  Sometimes all it takes is a crumpled five-dollar bill and a big dream.