Last November, I had the opportunity to hear a gentleman by the name of Darren Jacklin, a professional coach, speak while he was in Edmonton. I invite you to view his website at www.darrenjacklin.com.
Darren made a lasting impression on the audience that evening, as he did on me, and I want to share with you some of what he said. He opened his talk that night by saying;
"Never Assume That You're Not Being Observed."
He said that you are either;
- making the room brighter or dimmer
- attracting or repelling
- memorable or forgettable
But you are being watched and you are influencing those around you.
You decide how you influence.
He went on to say that "most men and women are an extra in their own movie" and "how you change your life is how you change what you do with your waking hours," and "that most people are just trying to get through their day, merely surviving, not thriving."
You decide.
And yet we are always being observed, and we are always impacting others.
Darren shared one particular story of how he wanted to negotiate with a prospective company for a certain dollar value in return for his professional services. His role was to work with a sizable number of their staff and to impact how they viewed and embraced leadership, communication, teamwork, productivity, and outcomes. You get the idea.
He went on to say how, as he picked up the phone to negotiate "his price" he felt a ting of nervousness. Would they accept his price, was he worth this price, could he deliver a service that would match this price? Internal chatter, self-analysis, and doubt began to creep into his mind.
Yet he mustered up the courage and asked for what he wanted, and to his delight, they readily agreed. The deal was done, Darren was to be paid half up front, and the other half after he delivered.
He had done it! He had faced his fears, went after what he wanted, and got it!
But never assume you're not being watched.
Darren delivered the information to the organization as promised and, and afterwards was invited to go on a team building trip white water rafting. As he, the CEO and CFO, walked along the edge of the river, the CEO pulled from his pocket the envelope containing the other half of payment owed.
When he went to hand it to Darren, something was wrong. The CEO wouldn't let go. Darren and this prominent businessman both held onto the envelope together, for what seemed like, to Darren, an eternity. And here is what Darren was told, and I paraphrase;
You made a mistake.
Darren said at that moment he knew it! He had overvalued his service and now they weren't going to pay him the other half of the money. He hadn't delivered as promised.
But never assume you're not being watched.
He was told further;
You made a mistake when you asked us for $10,000 because you never asked us what we would pay you, and had you done so, we would have gladly paid you double your asking fee!
You see Darren, they said, we have been watching you! We have been watching how you have been conducting yourself and your practice prior to us ever engaging in that phone call. We knew what you were worth well before you came to speak to our staff, and we knew what you could deliver, and we also knew the impact you would have that day, and afterward, on our company and on our staff.
They said Darren you need to know that what you say and what you do impacts others and never, ever should you forget that. He then gave Darren the envelope and told him he had delivered well beyond what he had promised.
Darren Jacklin now works training staff for some of the biggest companies on the planet and never, ever assumes he is not being watched and says he lives his life this way.
Before that day Darren underestimated the magnitude of the effect he had on people. Now he says he never forgets it and he lives his life this way.
How do you wish to live your life? You decide, but never assume you are not being watched. You are. You are important and you make a difference. You decide how.
With gratitude,
Coach Mark
