Are You a Permanent Occupant of the Waiting Room?
Do you live the Hollywood story??
Before you groan and snarl at me, hear me out.
The Hollywood story I refer to is the one where you are doing all the “right stuff” waiting to be “discovered.”
We all do it to some degree. Just think about it:
How often in your life did you think, “I’ll be recognized, rewarded, noticed, discovered!”
- As a kid at the dinner table with the family?
- At your desk in a classroom?
- All decked out and moving on the dance floor?
- In an important presentation to a new client?
- After the implementation of a new program in the office?
- When the kids and their friends arrive home after a movie to find a surprise pizza and drinks?
You know you put in your best efforts and you’re proud of the result. You wait and then, when the moment comes for it … nothing. Crickets. Life moves on and you start looking for the next thing you can do to stand out. You are sitting in the waiting room. What are you doing there? Yep, you got it. W-A-I-T-I-N-G.
For most of us …
There is no successful industry giant taking note of your innovative idea …
There is no teacher to champion your potential …
There is no prince to sweep you off your feet …
There is no lottery win to fill your purse …
Nope. While that might seem discouraging, it’s really empowering. That’s right. Because it takes you out of the waiting game and puts you in charge. That’s right. YOU ARE IN CHARGE OF YOUR SUCCESS.
It’s ALL up to you.
If you want more customers, more revenue, more profits, more credibility and authority, you have to create it for yourself.
“Authority is 20% given and 80% taken … so take it!” – Peter Ueberroth
You’ve heard about the motivational speaker who held up a $20 bill and asked, “Who wants this $20?” Every hand in the audience went up. He pulled out $10 more and asked who wanted it. Again, all the hands went up. He pulled out another $20 bill and asked again. While all the hands went up, someone in the audience ran up and took the money. It grew silent as every person in the audience gasped. The speaker then said, “Yes, everyone wanted it, but this guy finally took the action necessary to get it.”
That’s what it takes. Get out of the waiting room and into the arena.
All successful people have been willing to take a chance – a leap of faith, even if they were afraid.
“Progress always involves risk; you can’t steal second base and keep your foot on first.” – Frederick Wilcox
Today I want you to know that risk does not always have to be a gargantuan risk. The risk you take may be just getting out in front of an audience, it might be investing in a workshop or group discussion. It might be running an ad or campaign that brings you and your business into the spotlight. It might be being featured in an article or blog post.
A risk is simply anything that takes you outside your comfort zone. But it’s on the edge of discomfort where you will be “discovered and noticed and rewarded.” Putting yourself in that place is on you.
My coaching clients quickly learn that you create the edges of your discomfort zone and have to keep pushing them outward. You have to do that because the risk you take today and tomorrow soon becomes part of your COMFORT zone.
If you aren’t ready to step into the limelight yet, at least get out of the waiting room into the hallway. Little steps can still be forward steps:
- Schedule a one-on-one with a business person you admire
- Set up a social media account – Facebook, Twitter or Linked In and connect with friends and colleagues
- Attend an event, network or take a seminar
- Read a book or subscribe to a magazine that will expand your thinking
You just have to push the edge a little further out to move forward. You can choose your own pace and the amount of discomfort you are willing to face.
You CAN have that Hollywood story – the one you thought I was talking about – where your life is exactly the way you want it to be.
It’s all up to you!
To your success!
Thanks, Jack! Very encouraging & helpful!