Alan Weiss’s Monday Morning Memo® – 03/06/17
It was my birthday on Friday, which is always a good time for a bit of reflection, especially with the kind of life I lead. I always like to know what’s causing my success so that I can replicate it consistently (most self-help books assume you’re somehow “damaged” and want to “fix” you). Two points arose which I’ll share here.
The first is the need for a support system. I think the lack of one is a huge cause of failure among entrepreneurs and solo practitioners. (The extreme is when you return home daily and your spouse says, “Why don’t you get a regular job?”) My former girlfriend, fiancé, and first (and only) wife, Maria, has been able to consistently prevent my head from becoming a float in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Of course, she’s also helped me when she’s said, “Nothing you could have done about that, not your fault.” That’s helpful with a dull audience, an ornery client, or just bad luck.
The second is that you can’t let a bad experience ruin your day, but you can allow a good experience to make your day. Similarly, a bad turn shouldn’t ruin your journey, but a good turn should enrich it forever. It’s not what happens to you, it’s what you choose to do about it. There are external controls (weather, taxes, laws, etc.) and internal controls (judgment, talent, experiences, etc.). Surrendering to the external controls is silly. We know they’re there, stuff happens, but the determining factor is what we do about it.
Life affects us and we affect life. Control that reciprocity in your favor. That’s my birthday present to you.
The game has a cleanness. If you do a good job, the numbers say so. You don’t have to ask anyone or play politics. You don’t have to wait for the reviews. —Sandy Koufax (the greatest baseball pitcher in history)
Million Dollar Consulting® Convention: Our third, annual event, featuring Jonah Berger, author of Invisible Influence, plus four general sessions, 21 concurrent sessions, networking reception and lunches, panel discussions, and a lot more! https://www.alanweiss.com/growth-experiences/million-dollar-consulting-convention/
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