Defining Moments

It was fun watching an old movie the other night, Tin Cup. I loved seeing Costner’s character, Ron McAvoy, the anti-hero in the movie. Though he appears slovenly and unmotivated, he is quite the opposite. He lives for the defining moment. He is challenged by the conventional wisdom of his golf peers constantly. There are certain shots to play in certain situations and Ron McAvoy chooses the risky way often times. It’s not a matter of the result, it is the matter of what the moment does. Here’s a response he had to one doubter on why he takes the shot:

“Because that shot was a defining moment. When a defining moment comes along, you define the moment…or the moment defines you. I did not shrink from the challenge, I rose to it.”

I love it. It is funny, it happens every day to us. These defining moments do define us and we often choose to take the path of less risk. What would happen when we succeed and conquer fear? Or overcome challenges? Or do the nonconventional? We are redefined. That is the path to greatness.

Are You Working in Vanity?

Marcus Buckingham stated, “Damage control can prevent failure, but it will never elevate you to excellence” in his book, Now, Discover Your Strengths.
He makes the strong case that if you do not have the hardware in your being - the raw talent like empathy, presence, responsibility, etc. you will have a frustrating time trying to develop an acumen you do not naturally possess. You should instead work on your strengths and use those to get your job done with your custom style. Just watch NBA players as they play their positions. Their game and style is custom. Each guard or forward or center plays their position differently. They feel natural and comfortable with certain patent moves, but a bit uncomfortable with others. Some love to drive to the
basket and improvise. Others have an automatic jump shot that goes in. Buckingham would make the case that their synaptic makeup is what contributes to their comfort and ease with some skills while they may
struggle to develop other parts of their game.

In the same way, those strengths you have should be your focus in your job. Minimize your weaknesses and put your energy into refining your strengths, those things which lend to “consistent, near perfect execution” every time.

If you want to take steps to discover these and get some real coaching to take you to higher levels of success, we can help you with that.

Working in Your Strength?

Marcus Buckingham’s book, Now, Discover Your Strengths,
reveals in a study of 2 million people by the Gallup organization that
20% of employees do not feel they are playing to their strengths. That
means that 80% of people are just showing up. Talk about inefficiency.

The rampant issue is not that people are making willful compromises,
but that most people are working in a misguided paradigm. We believe
people can be competent in anything and we should work on our
weaknesses as the area for biggest growth.

Buckingham supports his research of those that have excelled in life
- Tiger Woods, Bill Gates, Warren Buffet, to name a few - mitigated or
altogether avoided their weaknesses and focused solely on their
strengths. We are born with innate talents. These turn into strengths
by use and application. A strength is “consistent, near perfect
performance in an activity.”

Perhaps you are losing energy daily because you are playing to your
weaknesses, not your strengths. You are missing a life of fulfillment
and amazing potential by continuing in this vein. Do your passion.
Live your strengths. If you need help discovering them, contact me.

Is Your Desire Costing You Something? Why Not?

In Napolean Hill’s classic book, Think and Grow Rich,
he agrees to become Andrew Carnegie’s understudy to document and
understand the secrets to creating wealth. The deal Carnegie offered
was that he spends years with him and captures the secrets, however,
Carnegie will not pay him anything. Eventually Napolean Hill goes on
to become wealthy himself.

There is a huge danger in getting something for free; IT COSTS YOU
NOTHING. And because it does not cost you, you do not appreciate it.
There is wisdom everywhere to be found. There are people that have
knowledge to help you in your situation. There are books to devour
that will help you. Yet, is your tendency not to take someone out for
lunch who has immense knowledge that might bless you because of the
cost of $15? Or do you stay away from buying books because of another
$20 you might spend? Or do you delete those invitations to valuable
seminars that can help you in a great way because of some sticker shock?

We do not value what costs us nothing. Carnegie understood this and
helped Napolean Hill in a great way by making a deal that would
increase sensation for his hungering appetite.

To do your desire, to leverage your talents in a new venture, to
pursue passion…these are mere steps. Get into reading . Ask someone successful if you can treat them to lunch. Or get access to some serious knowledge that will make a difference. Let it cost you and watch how your hunger increases.

Context for Service

I was reminded by a professional friend how the concept of employment is a modern day novelty. 100 years ago and beyond, people built their lives by their abilities and bootstraps. The farmer built his lot. He planned, worked hard and ran his business. He went through discouragement, faith and wins based on his output.

Today, it is hard to measure your result as it gets diluted in the context of corporate life. However, you do have immense value. Realizing this is only a few steps away. The biggest one is context. You do not know what conversations you will be in this week or even today. Todd Skinner states in his book, Beyond the Summit, “Opportunity is often a matter of both preparation and chance.” Or as the famed scientist Louis Pasteur states, “In the field of observation, chance favors only the prepared mind.”

The question is, are you prepared? Are you prepared to have that conversation that explores your value beyond an employee? Do you have a context to talk within? A business set up? A structure? A business card? Context drives conversations that may be missing you every day.

In the new economy, your employer is your customer. Are you acting with an owner mindset?

Free Agency

Do you remember Jerry McGuire? It was a cold hard look at how athletes were depicted as commodities.

Now think about yourself. You don’t necessarily have a fast-talking agent out there selling you like a commodity. You are most likely in possession of some talents which have been exchanged for a market value - your salary, benefits, stock options or other forms of compensation.  What if you thought more like the free agent athlete? The football player who knows his contract is finite and conditions can change?

Perhaps you do need some agency to supplement your lack of salesmanship.  Think of your employer as one of your customers and develop more along the way. You may want to start by simply reading Bill Jensen’s Work 2.0 which captures the spirit and essence of aligning as a knowledge worker in this rapid economy.

Break the illusion and step into reality. Stephen Covey said, “Security is not a job to me. Security is in my ability to produce.”

Get truly secure in your mind.