What Are You Really, Really Good At?

Well it has definitely been some time now since I last wrote here in my blog. To be honest I have missed it and wished I had made the time to do so. On the other hand I have found it difficult finding the inspiration I did have, to write such dynamic posts. I feel that is the case because I was going through such a difficult time last year - I was able to really have a fresh perspective on things.

My post today is based on the following question:

WHAT IS THE ONE THING YOU ARE REALLY, REALLY GOOD AT?

I was having a conversation with some friends and this came up and he mentioned what he was really, really good at. And I sat there and thought and thought - trying to figure out the one thing that I was really, really good at. The honest truth about me is that I like to do a lot of things, so I tend to be average in all of them. But I have never chosen to focus on just one.

There has been a ton going on lately...Roger Federer, the tennis champion got bumped from the Wimbledon in the quarterfinals! The previous 7 years he was the dominating champion consecutively. What the heck happened to this incredible player? LA Lakers claimed the NBA championship once again (I'm not a fan at all) - so we will move on. World Cup Soccer champion team was garnered by Spain - their first ever in history. And now the Tour de France is about 1/3 the way completed and this last Sunday, Lance Armstrong has taken the biggest time deficit ever in the history of his cycling career. The cause? Unlucky...he was involved in 3 different crashes that set him way back. And as he was racing back to be with the peloton, right as he arrived, that is when they headed up in to a big climb. Needless to say this did not work in his favor.

Why do I even mention all of these athletic events? These teams or individuals are really, really good at what they do. Part talent, part persistence but the bottom line is they have what it takes to be a champion, not once but again and again and again.

Back to the real world. What can we learn from our most prized champions? Well if I personally want to be anything like Lance Armstrong with my hobby love of cycling or in the professional world - I need to:

One, be freaking confident (on the verge of cocky-that's a joke).
Two, in the midst of pain stay focused.
Three, don't get distracted by your opponents, stick to your game plan and your strategy.
Four, you must work as a team. Nothing is accomplished as an individual or a one man show.
Five, fear nothing.

I have been thinking what I really, really want to be good at. Something substantial, something you can see and I am really struggling to figure this one out. In the past, I was an ok student in high school, I did my best in high school soccer & track, went to college and was an ok student there, played club soccer. Got married and now I am a husband & father - which I love. I cycle now and my profession is in sales. I want to be the best husband, father & businessman - there I just made my mind up. And I would like to become a much better cyclist.

Also think about what you really, really enjoy doing? Lets not forget there are other people out there besides ourselves that we can help in the journey of life.

Does Your Job Define You?

Do you feel your job defines you?

This has been something I have been struggling for some time now. At least that is the way I used to feel. So instead of being involved in a job that I felt was not me - I ventured off on my own and it was great. But unfortunately I got a bit cocky and lost my shirt (well more than that).

So now I have ventured off onto a completely new career path, but this time it is a family affair. I work with my father and brothers. And to be brutally honest, I absolutely love it. I have experienced way too many work environments where I have to be around people I don't want to be around, or I don't trust my boss, or the organization simply doesn't care about me. But now its family and there is nothing better I could ask for. I feel at ease in my work environment for the first time in a long time.

After thinking about it - I'm going to spend 40+ hours a week at a job, who should I spend it with? I felt no better place than with my father & brothers. Boy do we have some good laughs while at work, we push each other to be more successful, we help each other out and we got each others backs.

So does your job define you?

I say no it does not or at least it shouldn't. For me, I have found a lot of things that I like about my job and the core of that is pretty much the 'Game of Sales'. I'm on the phone a lot prospecting. I don't see it as cold calls anymore - I see it as a game. And I feel that is very important. I have really gotten into it. I won't lie, it can be tough at times - but the reward is great. I'm learning how to effectively communicate, how to work the phones, how to market and most important step out of my comfort zone and ask the tough questions. It only takes me once to make a mistake before I realize how important it is to ask the tough questions up front - so I don't waste my time.

What defines you is not your job but your decisions, actions & behavior. And what you do when you are off the job. Don't let anything dictate who you are. Bring your personality, skills & talents to your job and be successful.

I Dare You To Do Better!

Life sure is an interesting journey. This past year I turned 30. I'm sad to have left my 20's but on the other hand very happy. In my twenties, I was very young & naive. Now I actually feel I have some wisdom on my side from the many experiences I have had over the last 10 years. I have no regrets, I have really enjoyed the last ten years of my life but I do look forward to fulfilling the next ten years of my life being 30 something.

Happy New Year and welcome 2010. Around this time of year I set my new years resolutions and I will admit I am taking it to a whole new level this year, but this is not what this post is about.

A few weeks ago my wife and I watched Star Trek for the first time and I really enjoyed it, mainly because there was some substantial meat motivating statements that caused me to be recommitted to becoming better. If you haven't figured it out by now I love self-help, personal development and believing one can become anything they choose to be. But at times one needs to step aside and take a hard look at themselves, at their track record and reflect on what they are doing and where they are headed.

I did this and some of the dialogue from Star Trek really inspired me and I would like to share these pieces with you to wish you a Successful 2010.

At this point in the film Spock is discussing with his father whether being half human is a detriment to his being versus 100% Vulcan. This is what Spock's father shared with him in response,

"You are fully capable of deciding your own destiny. The question you face is which path will you choose? This is something only you can decide."

I totally agree with Spock's father on this, in essence 'You are the captain of your destiny.' You choose whether you are happy or sad, you choose whether your are rich or poor, you choose if you are successful. It's just a matter of how you deal with what is thrown at you.

This last piece is my favorite. At this point in the film Kirt the younger has just been discovered by Captain Pike the current captain of the Starfleet Enterprise at a bar in the Midwest. They sit down to have a little chat and it goes like this,

Captain Pike - Something I admired about your dad, he didn’t believe in no-win scenarios.

Kirt – He sure learned his lesson.

Captain Pike – Well, it depends on how you define winning. You’re here, aren’t you? You know, that instinct to leap without looking, that was his nature, too. And in my opinion, it’s something Starfeelt’s lost.

Kirt – Why are you talking to me, man?

Captain Pike – Cause I looked up your file while you were drooling on the floor. Your aptitude tests are off the charts. So what is it? You like being the only genius-level repeat-offender in the Midwest?

Kirt – Maybe I love it.

Captain Pike – So your dad dies. You can settle for a less-than-ordinary life. Or do you feel like you were meant for something better? Something special? Enlist in Starfleet.

Do not settle for a less-than-ordinary life. I believe ordinary people can do extraordinary things. Never give up! Fight the fight, wage the war and circumvent mediocrity.

"I DARE YOU TO DO BETTER!"
-Captain Pike