Ep 110: Putting Yourself in the Driver’s Seat
Watching the National Finals Rodeo (NFR) brings up a lot of emotions for me--while I have never made a run inside the Thomas & Mack, I still thrive on the excitement, the goosebumps, and the joy of seeing people’s dreams come true.
When I watch the NFR night after night, I think a lot about the journey that each of these athletes had to get to that point in their careers. I think about the steps they have taken over the years to become one of the best in the world; to put themselves in the driver’s seat.
I think about the commitments these athletes have made to fine-tune their skills; to perfect their craft. And, I think about how that relates to my life and my business.
Being in business for nearly 40 years, I have learned a lot about what works and what doesn’t. I have come to the conclusion that if you have a quality product, quality service, or quality experience that you can create, you are in the driver’s seat.
If anyone has listened to my story of how Bridget and I started out when I was just beginning my career as a trainer, you’ll know that there were some tough times, financially. There was a time in my business when I felt guilty for charging money to help people. I felt this way because this was the limitation I had put on myself.
Now, after nearly 40 years in business, I truly feel that if someone does not make the investment in themselves to get better, they are just cheating themselves. The investment you make in your skills now will determine the trajectory of your future. The earlier you start making these investments, the larger return you will earn. The amount of return is going to be exponential compared to your investment.
And, I believe that the athletes who find themselves on a stage like the National Finals Rodeo realize that, too. Success is never accidental. It is created by a series of intentional actions over a period of time.
Right now, start thinking about where you’re heading for next year. Don’t wait until New Year’s Day to decide what your objectives are. By January 1, you should already be implementing the actions it is going to take to get to where you want to be. Today, decide what actions are required to put yourself in the driver’s seat of your own life. No one is responsible for your success except yourself. I believe that, despite whatever external circumstances you may face, you, alone, are the only thing that can stand in your way.
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