The JF Guest Author Spot
Jeb Blount
I love the Olympics. I've been glued to my tv and computer for the last week trying to take in as much as I can. I enjoy the drama, the razor thin finishes, new world records, and watching obscure sports that are only covered on the sports networks once every four years. However, what I really live for is watching people of all ages capture their dreams.
But while the tv anchors and interviewers are focusing on the gold medal winners, who we admire and applaud, I've been thinking about the hundreds of Olympians from countries across the globe who came to the Olympics with no chance to win a medal at all. My son even asked me, after one of the announcers made a comment that a competitor had no chance of winning, why people who knew they couldn't win would even show up. It was a great question and one that I am sure has been asked time and time again.
The answer to this question is important for all of us because it is the basis for effective goal setting, personal success, happiness, and contentment. You see, each competitor comes to the Olympics with their own set of goals and their own vision which drives them to train, fight, run, swim, ump, and win for their own reasons in their own way.
Look at it this way: There is only one Michael Phelps, one LaShawn Merritt, one Nastia Liuken, one Misty May, and one Kobe Bryant. These individuals were given amazing talent which they have taken advantage of to do things that the rest of the planet holds up as a gold standard for achievement - phenoms that emerge one in a generation. Through their achievements they inspire legions of athletes and non-athletes alike to reach for new heights. However most people, no matter how hard they try, will never reach this level of success. And the danger for many is by holding themselves to these unachievable standards they eventually give up, quit setting goals, and fail to meet their own potential.
Not the Olympians though. At the Olympics each athlete has their own set of personal goals. True, many come with their sights on the Gold, Silver, or Bronze Medal. But most have goals like finishing the race, hitting a new personal best, being the youngest or the oldest, breaking a record, or just making it to the Olympics in the first place. In other words, they run their own race designed around their talent and potential. Instead of worrying about others they use their personal goals to stoke their desire and motivate them perform at their personal best.
I believe in setting goals. In fact I'm passionate about it. Goals are essential to success and happiness. Goals are critical for motivation. Goals help us develop passion for our lives and careers. And sadly most people never take the time to set and write down goals. As a student of goal setting I've discovered that a major reason many people never set goals is because they are afraid to fail. Using unrealistic standards for success they give up before even starting the race. They allow others to define what success means for them instead of looking into their heart and creating a unique vision for their own lives.
In every race there are people in the front, people in the middle, and people in the back. It will always be that way. Real success though is not defined by where you are in the pack. Instead, true contentment and happiness is derived from setting personal goals, based on what you want, and running your own race.
Jeb Blount is the author of the best selling sales motivation book, PowerPrinciples the host of the Sales Guy podcast , the #1 ranked sales podcast in the world. He is also the founder and CEO of the popular sales portal, SalesGravy.com.
If you would like some assistance with creating a plan and setting objectives for yourself, you will find this very helpful: "Seven Habits Of Highly Successful People"
Today's News: In his post - "Satisfied With Your Job - Not If You Are A Sales Executive" Dave Stein discusses a recent survey by Execunet, which suggests that only 54% of sales professionals are happy in their current job - so that's 46% who are not! This is broadly in line with my perception that globally, turnover is running at around 40% per annum. I am delighted to say that the figure is much, much lower within my clients, and the survey will probably give you the clues to just why that is.
Two more excellent blog posts that I can share with you: From Dave Brock - "Stop Wishful Thinking - Focus On Executing Your Strategies And Business Plans!" and this from Charles H Green "Misconceptions about Trust-based Selling: It Doesn't Work"
Tomorrow: "Value Add, Creativity & Problem Solving"
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