Ok, not too sure how this blog entry will turn out. My head knows what it wants to say, but I’m not sure it knows how to say it. So, here goes…
“Second fiddle” – “a role played by by an assistant or second-in-command to someone else”
Many many years ago I played violin – second violin – to be exact. As a second violin my musical role was more about playing harmony than it was about playing melody. First violins play melody; that’s why they’re first.
In a way, you could say I was playing second fiddle.
And I was happy and enjoyed playing it. Never really wanted to play first violin. I knew my role and accepted it.
Somewhere along the line I heard the phrase “don’t be a second fiddle to anyone; strive to be the top fiddler.”
Ok, so how do I make that happen? Do I even want that to happen?
Reflecting upon my past performance in various jobs, I was a great “second fiddle” but never made the leap to being the “top fiddler” no matter how hard I tried.
Did I simply “label” myself a “second fiddle” and believe that “label” and thus “become what I believed”?
I’ve been doing some reading on this topic. Joel Olsteen discusses labels in “The Power of I Am” and “Think Better Live Better”. Briefly, he states labels are placed on us by others and ourselves which WE allow to determine our destiny. We must remember that WE do not control our destiny, but that He (God) does.
So, how can we overcome these labels placed on us?
To live better you need to think better. One way to think better is to start each morning with positive affirmations like: I am happy. I am strong. I am unstoppable. I am equipped to deal with today today and will be equipped tomorrow for tomorrow.
Tape them to your bathroom mirror or refrigerator door. Put them wherever you’ll see them. Repeat the exercise again at night.
It’ll change your life.
Take it from an ex-second fiddle.
Dan’s View 
Thanks Dan! Powerful post today. Growing up I was given the message that it was OK to be average. And as I moved through life, being average is what showed up in most of my endeavors. I have decided to BEAT AVERAGE. It’s a battle, but worth it!
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I am still struggling with this issue. I know that’s why I am doing all the personal growth and leadership training. I want and desire to be more than my “labels” tell me I am. That’s why one of my daily affirmations is “I am Daneil a man of action and the world is my comfort zone.” It makes me think about what action I am going to take today to be a better Dan tomorrow. It’s not easy, but nothing worth doing ever is.
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