FM and KA: two sides of same "chip on shoulder" coin.

Posted on: March 20, 2017 at 08:26:57 CT

Both Frank Martin and Kim Anderson carried large chips on their shoulder, an internal conviction that they were not respected, that others didn't want them to have a certain or another job, that many people in positions of power doubted their abilities and actively stood in their way.

One of them used that internal conviction to drive himself in a me-against-the-world march that included grinding work at multiple jobs of all levels in out of the way venues in a relentless effort to prove himself but in a way that clearly stated "I don't care what others think" even as the most important thing in the world to him was what specific others thought of him.

The other stewed in the same "they don't want me" internal conviction, simmering it into a brew of victim hood, withdrawing from his pursuit when his dream job wasn't handed to him, shutting down his ambition and contenting himself in an out of the limelight job even as he grumbled internally that he was never given the chance.

One built a resume for himself. The other waited for others to lobby on his behalf.

One grabbed the opportunity by the throat when it presented itself and wouldn't let go through relentless work, and fight and determination. The other looked around at the odds stacked against him and bemoaned the unfairness of it all.

One took an approach that said "I don't care if they fire me I'm doing it my way and I'm gonna knock down every obstacle that's in my way." The other took an approach that said "I knew I was going to be fired the day I was hired and wouldn't be able to overcome the obstacles that others unfairly put in front of me."

We shall see but I personally think Cuonzo Martin is more like the guy who shares a last name.