Conversations with Everyday Geniuses Part 3-Harlem Globetrotter Kevin Daley

Kevin Daley also known as “Special K” of the world famous Harlem Globetrotters is today’s “Everyday Genius.” For the next several days I’m profiling people I consider “Everyday Geniuses”, people that are living from their Genius Potential. Today is day three, so make sure you check my last two blogs to learn about other “Everyday Geniuses.”

This conversation for me was special for me because Kevin and I went to high school together in California. To see Kevin impact the world in such a positive way is a great joy for me. When you meet Kevin you will see immediately why he fits with the world famous Globetrotters, his awesome personality is contagious.

Kevin’s motto is “Just Keep Smiling.” To fully understand this motto you have to know a little about Kevin’s upbringing. Originally from Panama, his family moved to the United States when he was 12 years old. Coming to a new place was a challenge within itself, but coming to a new neighborhood and not knowing how to speak English very well, was very difficult. Not to mention the gangs, drugs and violence that surrounded this new environment. But Kevin was able to navigate and focus on his love for basketball and now enjoy a life he could only dream about.

When I talked with Kevin he shared some powerful ideas about living your dreams. Even though he loved basketball, playing in the NBA was not his goal, his goal was making a career out of playing basketball, and I think that was a very important concept. Kevin didn’t limit himself to one idea of playing basketball professionally; this thinking allowed him more options to fulfill his goals.

Kevin began to chart his course of allowing basketball to provide the life he always desired. Earning a scholarship to UCLA and then to Azusa Pacific to play basketball, Kevin was on his way. After college Kevin played overseas, first in Costa Rica and several other places overseas. Kevin recalled “I cried when I got that first check, it wasn’t much, but I was getting paid to play basketball.”

Each year Kevin would travel back home in the summer to play in the Summer Leagues with players from the NBA. His play caught the eye of the Harlem Globetrotters and they eventually offered Kevin an opportunity to play basketball for their team.

Kevin now is one of the featured players on the Globetrotters, travelling literally around the world to inspire, motivate and encourage fans while playing basketball. For Kevin, a dream come true.

The most important thing I took away from our conversation was that we should never limit our dreams, goals or visions to one path, there are many ways we can pursue doing what we love. Kevin just wanted to make basketball a career. He is defiantly living from his Genius Potential. Follow Kevin’s tremendous journey on the Globetrotters website (www.harlemglobetrotters.com) or his personal site (www.3dquest.net).

I hope you are realizing that you do can live from your Genius Potetnial, just like Kevin and the other Everyday Geniuses you have learned about.

Think Better, Live Better

Dr. Will
Author, Genius Potential

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