Inspire Me (March 2007)

True stories, quotes and information on inspiration, leadership and kindness to provide hope and direction in your life.

The Best Advice I Ever Received

Many years ago I was selected along with several unit managers for our managers training program. I had the largest unit in the company and was excited knowing that when the training program was completed I would receive the first appointment.

I threw myself into every assignment wholeheartedly to make sure they didn't forget me. The training included several weeks in the home office and field assignments training new agents and assisting agency managers.

The company began making manager assignments and to my surprise I wasn't first. Not only was I not first, but finally they were all assigned and I was still traveling around the country and getting home every other weekend to see my wife and four children.

I was becoming more discouraged and bewildered each day that no one gave me any hope and I began to think they had forgotten about me. I couldn't understand why their most successful unit manager, their most enthusiastic, loyal employee could be totally forgotten.

The last straw was when I was told a failing manager had been appointed to my home agency where our manager died of a sudden heart attack. I hit an all time low, my hopes and dreams were crushed. As I wallowed in my self-pity but always keeping up a tremendous front, I began the plot of
how to gracefully start over with another company. I knew that would be easy since several companies had pursued me for years.

I realized my career was over where I was but I didn't feel I could honorably talk with other companies while still on the payroll of my present company. I wrote a letter to my marketing VP explaining how I loved the company and was grateful for the opportunity I had but since it now appeared that I had no future there, I would like permission to talk with other companies as I finished my projects.

I received a call from the home office asking me to come in immediately for a meeting with the senior sales VP. I explained I would rather not come in because I didn't want to threaten or bargain. I felt I had been forgotten and it was time to move on.

They told me it was all right and they wouldn't bargain to keep me but still wanted me to come in. I was beaten and dejected knowing I was about to leave all my friends and the company I had totally committed my life to.

When I arrived, the VPs assistant who was a dear friend warmly greeted me and assured me I wasn't forgotten and the VP would like to meet with me. I had tremendous admiration for the VP who was a great all around role model. First, he assured me I wasn't forgotten but if I would be patient a little longer I would be a very happy young man.

He explained, "We aren't promising you anything" but he added they had something special that isn't ready yet. I was embarrassed and humbled by his understanding my impatient, juvenile attitude and felt the world had been lifted off my shoulders now that my hopes and dreams were back on track.

As we parted, he gave me the best advice I ever received that saved my career.

"Write all the letters of resignation you wish, but never mail them." He gave me my letter back and a few moths later, I was sent back to my home agency, which was my dream come true. Someone said that you don't find success, do the things that others neglect and be patient and success will
find you.

You know them instantly when you meet them.

You want to be near them.

You want to be like them.

You know the type...

Always smiling. Hard worker. Optimistic. Assured.

And they win... a lot.

Carmelo Anthony, only 18 years old, is that person.

Aas a freshman, he led the Syracuse Orangemen to the NCAA men's national basketball championship.

He routinely did the impossible.

Showing skills reserved only for those 'touched by the hand of God.'

All with a smile that lit up the entire Carrier Dome.

He made us all forget about the whipping winds and the 14+ feet of snow we were hammered with this winter. It didn't matter.

Because we got to witness someone special.

Sure, he has natural skills, but it's a LOT more than that.

He works like no one else.

He's as coachable as they come...

He listens closely, learns from every mistake, practices every day like he's playing for the NBA title.

And he's only eighteen.

Most people want to believe this kind of talent gets inserted at birth.

Most want to believe that they just don't have it.

It absolves them from responsibilities for their failures.

And it's true that few people are born with the physical ability to play sports at the highest levels or the ability to tolerate the kind of stress endured by presidents of huge corporations.

But what most people forget is that to become great at anything, you've got to get single minded.

If you want greatness, or heck, forget about greatness for a minute...

If you want to get past this next challenge, to succeed at getting rid of the habit that has you by the throat...

....then work on that one thing only. Sure, fulfill your daily responsibilities.

But when it comes to reaching this one top goal, make it absolutely, positively a must. Look at this goal like it's the most important thing in your life.

If you do this, I guarantee you of one thing...

....that if you DON'T make it all the way, you'll most certainly come closer than you ever have before.

And in the process of the reaching and the straining, you'll be growing.

Becoming more capable.

Becoming the person other people want to be like.

Because even if you reach your big goal, it's possible to lose it all in the future, to go back to your old ways.

Right?

But if you put all of yourself, and I mean ALL of yourself into your reaching, learning everything you can along the way, then not only will you most likely succeed now, but you'll be able to do more in the future.

How do you think highly skilled people in any field got so good? Were they born with all that knowledge and skills?

Give me a break!

It's called work. I know that's a dirty word to most people...

But if you want to get to that place and be that person you imagine when you close your eyes, then honest effort is the only way.

But don't be so glum...

Carmelo Anthony wasn't even considered an elite recruit as a high school junior. No. But during his senior year, he blew up... working like a maniac, that year building massively on the skills he already had developed through intensely practicing the same things day in-day out.

And because of it, he just barely passed his college entrance exams.

And those people who love to look down on those with lesser vocabularies, grades or looks... those things are nice.

But you don't have to know everything to reach your goals and to be successful in this life of yours. You can't be all things. It's impossible.

You just have to do what you must to get where you want to go.

If your goals aren't huge now, that's fine. Reach the small ones. Build your confidence. And go from there.

The tallest buildings start with many sub-floors under the ground.

So, if that's where you are starting from, know that you can still get where you want to go... one step at a time.

The time for living is now.

So what are you going to do?

You know, it's ridiculous.

I watch NBA basketball VERY infrequently, because it's clear that these highly paid babies have no idea what success is. They think it's getting a big contract. They hear the crowd roar when they hit a basket and they think that's success. The next day, this multi-millionaire might pout and score only 3 points.

So, feeling full of themselves like they are some kind of gods, they yell at the coaches and they don't listen. They yell at the referees. Fight with the fans if someone says something they don't like.

They should all watch Michael Jordan highlight footage if they want to see what success is. Day after day, year after year, he performed at a level no one else could have demanded of anyone. He held himself to a higher standard. His definition of success was related to "what I need to do
right now"-not about what he had done in the past.

Have you ever lost weight because an event was coming up and then put it right back on afterwards... for say, a wedding? Perhaps even your own?

Why? For pictures?

Don't you realize that everyone who sees you after that event is going to see your stomach hanging out - today? Maybe you should just have those pictures of the "thin you" blown up and paste them to the front and back of you so you can remind everyone what you "used" to look like.

Questions:

-- In the NFL or college, does anyone remember who has the rushing record for a game? Most remember Walter Payton for a career, though.
-- How about the most home runs in a Major League game? No? Hank Aaron quickly comes to mind for most, when talking about the lifetime record.
-- Most hits in a game? Me neither. But Pete Rose is who most remember as the all-time hitting champ.
-- What about how good-looking you were 20, 30, 50 lbs. ago?

It's hard to even remember your "glory days" when today is a mess isn't it? It kind of makes you laugh when someone tells you that life is too short, doesn't it? You can't even remember the "good old days" very clearly, can you?

They lose their impact over time.

Long term success isn't measured that way, is it? Anyone can succeed for a day or even a month. But ultimately, it's who you ARE that decides whether you'll suck it up today and make the right choices or whether you'll "put off" the right choices.

You can't reach success unless you can define it.

I like Earl Nightingale's definition because it asks you to reach inside and give your love today, your energy today, your best today. It asks you to put forth effort today and tomorrow. Yet it lets you feel joy NOW, not at some time in the future.

Stop putting off being happy. Decide. Isn't life a bit too short to be crying over your lost opportunities and mistakes?

Just say yes. Do something important now, follow through and finish it. Do it now. That's it. Get up, and...

Keep a smile on your face while you're doing it. You just MIGHT start to enjoy yourself.