Now that I had myself all motivated and with my fabulous new coaching business in high gear, I was beginning to wonder why the returns weren't coming in... I mean, I had done everything right...I was networking at least 5 times per week, the pile of business cards I had collected was overflowing out of my rolodex (yes, I still have a rolodex)...and I was well into the 2nd printing of my business cards. So, why wasn't I a success yet?
It caused me to think back to a brilliant comment from a wise job counselor I went to in the 90's. "You know Jan", he said, "You have to understand that you are playing on a different length of football field." "What does that mean I asked?" "Well", he said "a normal US football field is 100 yards....for whatever reason, you have decided that you are playing on a 150 yard field. So that means that when, by the actual rules of the game, you get a touchdown, you think you still have 50 yards to go!"
The upside to that? You are highly motivated to do even more.
The downside? You never ever celebrate the touchdowns you do achieve...because you think you still have 50 yards to go!
The danger in playing on a longer than normal football field is that you spend your life thinking that there is something else that you have to do, something else you have to achieve in order to "make it". And that has a direct impact on your peace and contentment and with just being where you are right here...and right now.
So I decided to reflect on where I was right now with my business...what were my touchdowns?
a/ first of all, I had the guts to even start my own business
b/ and... I hadn't yet lost my guts!
c/ and hey, my gut even still said I had made the right choice...
Now I am wondering, what is the length of your football field and how does that play out in your life?
Is there somewhere in your life that you are not giving yourself a break?
Is there somewhere in your life that you are not celebrating the many things that you have already achieved?
This month's challenge: Creating Your Touchdown List
Time to celebrate the incredible amount of things you have already achieved in your lifetime. I am throwing down the gauntlet and asking you to spend some time this August creating your "Touchdown list." Don't stop until you have at least 50 "touchdowns" on your list.
A touchdown doesn't need to be of Nobel prize winning magnitude. It can be a personal triumph like finishing a 10 k run or as simple (now I didn't say "easy") as getting the kids off to school with their lunches and homework intact...or perhaps your ongoing triumph as a teacher who inspires your students...
I challenge you to challenge your idea of what a touchdown is. Are you playing by a different set of rules? Are you okay with changing those rules?
In closing, it seemed fitting to include a quote by the much loved and respected Bob Ackles, who started as a waterboy with the BC Lions and was their President and CEO when he passed away on July 6th. Bob's motivational credo that inspired thousands was simply "BE THE BEST THAT YOU CAN BE".
And if that means you allow yourself to play on a shorter field now and again and celebrate your touchdowns with everyone else that is perfectly okay. And remember, sometimes it's even okay for one of your teammates to carry the ball the final 50 yards!
TOUCHDOWN!!!! WOO HOO!!!!