The Maverick - A Path Less Chosen
I suppose the first time I ever heard the word Maverick was watching television as a child. In 1978, ABC produced a movie that was a re-make of late 1950’s tv show called, Maverick. Both programs starred the late James Garner. And, again in 1994, a major motion picture movie was made called Maverick, starring Mel Gibson with co-star James Garner. In 1986, the movie Top Gun, in which Tom Cruise played a character whose military call sign was Maverick, probably made the term more recognizable in American Culture than ever before.
So, what exactly does the word Maverick mean and where does it come from? And why are people sometimes called a “Maverick”? Both very good questions. After all, I chose to name my company MaveriConsulting for a reason. A very good reason.
The definition of a Maverick, according to Cambridge Dictionary is:
a person who thinks and acts in an independent way, often behaving differently from the expected or usual way.
A Maverick is an independent minded individual who forges his/her own way. Not taking the course that might be plotted by the average person. But, one that is perhaps the path less chosen. I suppose, I have always been a maverick at heart, even as a small child. But individual behavior is what urges the call sign, Maverick.
The origin of the word stems from the last name of Samuel Augustus Maverick. He was a Texas lawyer, politician, land baron and signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence. His name is the source of the term "maverick," first cited in 1867, which has come to mean "independently minded." Augustus Maverick inherited some cattle and despite demands from other ranchers in the area, he refused to brand his cows, citing the expense and trouble. Refusing to follow what the other ranchers thought made good sense. But what the other ranchers didn’t know was that Maverick didn’t want the cows. He saved the high expense of rounding up and branding all the cows. And, his herd grew when unbranded cows from other ranches wandered onto his property. Thus the Maverick became also known as the unbranded one. Mr. Maverick was famous for not surrendering his position in business, politics, or war. He was typically the outlier who saw a better way and he was a true leader for his time. I understand his spirit and must have inherited a bit of Maverick in my own.
Many moons ago, when I gave my High School Graduation speech for being the Valedictorian of my tiny little High School back in Louisiana, I chose a quote recommended by my English teacher from a famous poem by Robert Frost. The poem was entitled, The Road Not Taken. The quote I used was,
“Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could.......,
Then took the other.....,
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I,
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference
If you are working here at MaveriConsulting, you too have chosen the road less traveled. It takes a special type of person to want to brave the territory where we live. The world calls us entrepreneurs, risk takers, go-getters and a variety of other words, some perhaps not so kind. Many think we are taking a chance of not making enough money, and betting on the odds, like a gambler. Much like the characters in the first television show called The Maverick, in which the main character was a poker playing gambler.
But, what makes us different is that we don’t see this as a risk, because we are only betting on one factor, one person. And, that person is yourself. You and I bet on the person we see in the mirror every morning. And, folks that is a winning bet every time! I will not let myself down, and I will not let those that depend on me down. And, I know you won’t either. We are not risk takers at all. When you bet on a sure-thing, it’s not risky, it is a guarantee.
So, let the world look at us how they will. Let them think we are a little different. Let them fear doing what we do themselves. Let them keep thinking it is risky. All the more for us to take and keep. We are the winners! We always come out on top. We can’t even imagine losing. And that is the safest course to take, the best path, the one less traveled. Not a path that the average person would take. Which by definition means we are not average, so I choose to believe we are above the average, beyond the normal, better than most!
We own our time, our income and our destiny because we trust ourselves to get up, go to work, do the right thing, make the best choice, not just sometimes, but every time. And, it’s easy to do, because we have no fear. We are independent minded, we don’t follow the crowd, we don’t accept the brands that the world chooses to put on the masses. We are Mavericks!
So, forge your own path. Don’t settle for mediocrity. Go for the gold. Blaze your own trail.
If you are working here at MaveriConsulting, you too have chosen the road less traveled. It takes a special type of person to want to brave the territory where we live. The world calls us entrepreneurs, risk takers, go-getters and a variety of other words, some perhaps not so kind. Many think we are taking a chance of not making enough money, and betting on the odds, like a gambler. Much like the characters in the first television show called The Maverick, in which the main character was a poker playing gambler.
But, what makes us different is that we don’t see this as a risk, because we are only betting on one factor, one person. And, that person is yourself. You and I bet on the person we see in the mirror every morning. And, folks that is a winning bet every time! I will not let myself down, and I will not let those that depend on me down. And, I know you won’t either. We are not risk takers at all. When you bet on a sure-thing, it’s not risky, it is a guarantee.
So, let the world look at us how they will. Let them think we are a little different. Let them fear doing what we do themselves. Let them keep thinking it is risky. All the more for us to take and keep. We are the winners! We always come out on top. We can’t even imagine losing. And that is the safest course to take, the best path, the one less traveled. Not a path that the average person would take. Which by definition means we are not average, so I choose to believe we are above the average, beyond the normal, better than most!
We own our time, our income and our destiny because we trust ourselves to get up, go to work, do the right thing, make the best choice, not just sometimes, but every time. And, it’s easy to do, because we have no fear. We are independent minded, we don’t follow the crowd, we don’t accept the brands that the world chooses to put on the masses. We are Mavericks!
So, forge your own path. Don’t settle for mediocrity. Go for the gold. Blaze your own trail.
I have gotten off the beaten path, and made my own way. And, you are doing the same. Congratulations! You are a Maverick! Welcome to this exclusive club!
Below are couple of links to interesting reads, you might enjoy:
7 Steps to Forging Your Own Path
The Art of Forging Your Own Path
How to plan your sales and income goals for the year - In 5 Easy steps
By CEO, Wm. Brad. Nolan
Learn how to set your goals! Practice the philosophy of goal planning, writing your goals down, and reviewing them daily.
In an effort to spark some positive beginnings, and have included a link to this document on Google Drive.
How to plan your sales and income goals for the year - In 5 Easy Steps
I hope that all of you will open the link, print the document and plan your goals! I have been a consummate goal planner, goal writer and reviewer since I was a teenager. It has helped me immensely to reach so many goals and accomplish so many dreams that it would take hours to share them with you all.
Let me know if you need help in your goal setting or planning. If you don’t understand how to go about making a solid plan, for your goals, don’t be ashamed. Ask for help. It is safe to say, that most of us didn’t take a college course or high school class on Goal Setting to reach our life’s dreams.
Most importantly, when you are setting your High Goals, be a little fearless and remember what Winnie the Pooh is most famous for saying…..
“You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think." — Christopher Robin, Winnie the Pooh