Good morning! First of all, is anybody else in awe that it’s March already? I mean, wow.
So often we find ourselves reactive to people, and circumstances, beyond our control.
“When’s the deal going to close?”
“We’ll see what the client says.”
“How many items are they going to order?”
“It depends on what John needs.”
“What are we going to generate this quarter?”
“Let’s cross our fingers.”
“Do you think we’ll get the account?”
“I hope so.”
We’ll see, it depends, if only, maybe, hopefully, it would be great if, etc.
We have these questions, and yet our experience is that the answers seem to rely on forces outside of our control.
Michael Jordan said, “I’ve missed more than 9,000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. 26 times I’ve been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.”
Now, there’s a lesson in there about how to relate to failure. But today I want to look at another aspect of Jordan’s quote. Something behind his words, beyond his natural talent, and even his hard work. Underneath all of it is something fundamental that all of us must have to accomplish anything.
And that’s INTENTION.
When we want something, and I mean really want it – not just claim we do – we overcome our circumstances and take obstacles out of our way. And when we don’t really want something, we find excuses, relate to our circumstances as “really real,” put obstacles in our way, and let ourselves off the hook.
So what’s YOUR intention? What are you really committed to creating in your life and business?
Let’s go back to the month of March. Global Warming aside, historically, March is known to come in like a lion and go out like a lamb.
How do you want March to go? I invite you to get clear on what you want to create and then go create it. Declare it out loud or on paper and then take whatever action is required to go fulfill on that declaration.
Maybe it’s going to take more time or more effort to close that deal? Fine.
Maybe John doesn’t want to order as many units as last year? So go talk to Steve.
You want to go create a milestone number this quarter? Go create it. You totally can.
Consider that we’re always convincing ourselves – and others – of something. Instead of convincing yourself why it’s hard, or you have to wait and see, or that you can’t, convince yourself that you can.
Look, it’s true that we can’t always alter the circumstances themselves. But we can sure choose how we relate to them. How are you going to relate to your circumstances this month? You going to let them stop you? Or you going to get it done?
With a group like this, I think we all know the answer.
Get clear about that intention and go for it.
