As I’m sure we will be reminded at some point later in the meeting, next week we’re off. And it’s always nice to get a short break. But before we do, I thought we could all use a little motivation so this morning I’m turning up the heat…
When we’re young, we learn about the dangers of fire. From our parents and caregivers, but also maybe it was a firefighter that came to give a presentation at your elementary school, or a recorded video or message they played, on VHS if you’re older like me, or perhaps streamed on YouTube or another digital format.
You were taught about feeling the door before opening it, and getting down to the ground to crawl to safety. We’re taught about stop, drop, and roll. And then there’s the thing that they call the silent killer — carbon monoxide. It’s the reason we all have detectors in our homes. It’s absolutely lethal. And yet without those machines, we can’t hear it, we can’t see it, we can’t smell it.
The destructive nature of the flames is obvious — because they’re bright, hot, powerful. But more people are actually taken down by that subtle, invisible, odorless gas.
I’m here to tell you that there is another silent killer that affects our lives. It will steal your power, your potential, and your future.
WAITING.
Think about it. We wait until we have enough, we wait until something changes, we tell ourselves that first the conditions need to be perfect — or at least a particular way — and then we’ll act. I’m here to tell you that waiting is a killer of possibility.
The time to act is now. What’s that action you keep procrastinating on? Who’s that person you keep telling yourself you’ll reach out to? Or ask for an introduction too?
You want to know when the conditions are perfect? They’re perfect right now.
And right now, I want you to take ten seconds. Seriously. Pick up your pen, or your phone, and write the first action or person that comes to mind. The thing that you already know will have a positive impact on your business in particular, or another area of your life that may be impeding your ability to show up powerfully in your business. The thing you’ve been waiting to do.
And again, if it’s in some other area of your life (money, relationship, health), don’t think for a second that it’s not affecting your business or bottom line. Gaps in well being, breakdowns in relationship, a lack of integrity in earning and spending… when there’s a hole in the hull and the ship is taking on water, it ain’t just the bow or stern that starts sinking. The whole ship is going down. Ok ready to write your answer? Go ahead, I’ll count silently for you. 10-15 seconds… go.
Great, I acknowledge the willingness and the courage to face it, and let it out.
Remember if we can name it, then we can tame it.
The next step is to actually take the action. We don’t have the time right now. But my invitation is that you give it a short leash. The longer you wait, the easier it will be to kick the can down the street again and wait even longer.
If you can move it forward, even one step, by end of day today, go for it. Maybe it can show up in your commercial. Maybe you can leverage inviting that person you thought of as a guest here in a couple weeks. Send that email, make that call, have that conversation, make that request of them, or of us, or of yourself.
Whatever it is, action is your friend. None of us will ever be younger than we are today.
So don’t wait. Say it, write it, create it… DO it.
