In the Presence of Brilliance

Written and originally published by Mattison Grey 9/06/2006

It doesn’t happen very often—in fact, hardly ever—but when it does WOW!

A couple of weeks ago, I had the honor of being in the presence of someone who was in their brilliance. I can’t tell you the last time I had that opportunity, and the scarcity is what made it special. After it was over, it began to dawn on me what I had just witnessed. I had to sit and consider what had just happened, and I have to say it was very emotional. Then I immediately began to think about when I could I see it again.

Before I tell you who and where, let’s talk about this thing called “being in your brilliance.”

First there is a difference between being brilliant and being in your brilliance. There are brilliant people, and then there is being in your brilliance. Everyone is brilliant in many ways. Doing the “thing” that you were put on the planet to do—that is being in your brilliance. Some people spend their entire life looking for it and wondering what they are looking for. A few are lucky enough to find it and be able to do something about it.

Examples of people in their brilliance are pretty hard to cite.

When Tiger Woods plays golf he is in his brilliance, and when he plays like he played last week he is also in the zone. But the thing about Tiger is he was born to play golf. This seems clear when we look at his accomplishments, both in what he has done on the golf course and what he has caused in the world. Do a little research on his foundation and his impact on kids through golf and you’ll see. Sure, he’s a great athlete, but the question is if he would have chosen basketball or football, would he be as good? My answer is no, he would not be the Tiger Woods of basketball or football. He is what and who he is because golf is his brilliance. If you disagree, that’s perfectly fine, but you can’t argue with results.

Results are one big clue that someone may be in their brilliance—amazing results and phenomenal impact. Speaking of impact, often the way the experience impacts us is that we are inspired to go out and do the thing we see them doing.

When have you been witness to someone in their brilliance? What were you born to do?

The unlikely place I found a guy in his brilliance was Laff Stop in Houston, Texas. Most people who are doing stand-up comedy are not in their brilliance, but this guy Josh Blue was. It was the most amazing example I personally have ever witnessed. Josh’s story is an incredible one—born with cerebral palsy, he began doing stand up in college and then won the nationally televised show Last Comic Standing. He is now on a nationwide, sold-out tour, standing on stage doing his brilliance each day. The big question is: Did he win Last Comic Standing because he had cerebral palsy, or does he have cerebral palsy so he could find his brilliance and win?

It is a very provocative distinction.
My answer is yes.

What is yours?

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