Monday, April 8, 2013

Only Leaders Enjoy the Drink of Ice Cold Success



 

How’s it going Ladies and Gentlemen?

Welcome back to Graceland Ontario, your one stop location for success advice from the greats. Today we’re going to expand on the snow post I made a bit back (before there’s no more snow on the ground) and give you more tips on leadership.

So, remember what I said before in my first snow post (here’s the link, if you haven’t seen it)? That when you walk down the sidewalk there are icy areas, areas where the snows been compounded to its most slippery form because everyone’s been on it, and areas that are still snowy because most people don’t give the extra effort to walk through it. The people who walk through snow are the leaders who give the added exertion and are rewarded with a clean, unique footprint (success, money, love, recognition, etc.). The others are the followers, all looking for an easy way, all not wanting to put in the work, even if it means they have to walk on ice (debt, insecurity, lack of confidence, bad health).

Well, there’s one other thing to add: when you walk down the sidewalk, you notice the snowy and icy areas all the time. It’s not a one time decision to step in the snow, it’s a continual one. You’ve gotta keep pushing yourself to take risks, keep on trying to grow if you want to be a true leader. It’s not a one nod deal.

And here’s the thing, once you’ve passed those snowy patches (the golden areas of opportunity) you have to wait for the next chance (there always is one, even if it’s not what you planned for) or turn around and go back again. But it’s a huge waste of effort walking back every time you want to step in the snow you missed − sometimes it’s not even possible (thinking of walking back up that icy hill to step in that one patch of snow while a hundred crazy kids are charging at you with toboggans? Didn’t think so…) In some cases, you’re scoring a Pyrrhic victory − the cost isn’t worth the gain.

So, pay attention to the snow, those opportunities that come your way. You’re moving past them all the time and sometimes it doesn’t make sense to go back and grab them (if you can − when you want to be class president and you’re 45, you’re in a bit of a jam). Leaders are proactively searching for opportunities, constantly looking for beautiful, fluffy snow to step in. Followers, those guys on the ice, miss them for whatever reason and then have to live wishing they could turn back.

It’s your choice who you want to be.

Talk to you next week!

Alex H.

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