It's been a while since my last post. It amazes me how fast time goes . . . especially summer. It doesn't seem to go that fast in the winter living in Minnesota! But, I've been "diggin' ditches," so I've been busy.
Last year I went to the 2011 Leadership Summit (so good that I'm attending the 2012 Summit and can't wait!) and there was a speaker there named Steven Furtick who talked about digging ditches. I just recently had the chance to see that speech again and it really helped me to understand and remind me what all the hard work is for. In his speech, Steven talked about how each thing we do and each thing we overcome that is helping us move towards our goals is "digging a ditch." Coming from being a life coach, it's a great metaphor and visualization for what we do each week when we set goals to move towards what we want to achieve.
At the heart of Furtick's speech, what he said made so much sense. That we spend our time comparing ourselves to other people's "highlight reels!" Isn't that the truth? We see people who are at the top of their game, have achieved what we want to achieve or the status that we want -- but all we think about is them at the top. We never saw their "behind the scenes -- their digging ditches," and we don't know how long it took them to dig their ditches to get to where they are. For some reason, we think that it came easy to them because they are rich, beautiful, know people, lucky (insert whatever excuse or reason you want). We always think that we could never do that because we don't have what they have. Don't believe it. We all have the capability to achieve whatever we want to achieve, it's just up to how many ditches you are willing to dig to get there. A lot of times, we start digging ditches but become frustrated and tired so we quit . . . and maybe quitting just before we've reached our highlight reel! But you will never know for that reason . . . you gave up on the ditch digging and thought that it was easier to stay in that job you don't like, never start that business you wanted to, never go back to school -- or whatever it is you want to achieve.
Another speaker at the Leadership Summit last year was Seth Godin. He wrote a book called "The Dip: A Little Book That Teaches You When To Quit (And When To Stick)." His argument is that we often quit the wrong things at the wrong times, and getting better at seeing what matters can transform you. It's a quick and easy read but a great help if you need to make a decision whether to quit or stick it out. You may be in a cul-de-sac or you just might be right on the verge on making it!
I know for myself, I'll keep digging ditches. And then, when I reach that goal, I'll start digging more ditches to get to my next goal. It doesn't mean that the goal may not change or get readjusted along the way, but there will always be something I'm striving for to better myself whether it's a small or lofty goal.
So, here's to you to either keep digging your ditches or to start digging them! And, quit comparing yourself to other people's highlight reels! Believe me, they were sure to have dug their own ditches to get there. Stay focused and in your own lane, eyes forward on your own goals!
"When the world says "give up," Hope whispers, "Try it one more time."
Author Uknown
"It's not that I'm so smart, it's just that I stay with problems longer."
Albert Einstein
"Don't be discouraged. It's often the last key in the bunch that opens the lock."
Author Unknown
"Why compare yourself with others? No one in the entire world can do a better job of being you than you."
Uknown
Love and peace . . .
Tracey
No comments:
Post a Comment