What is your definition of success?
There’s a story that’s been around for a while but I heard it from a guy named Bruce D Schneider, so I’m giving him props. Its a baseball analogy, and it illustrates my point perfectly.
Imagine that you are at the plate looking to hit a line drive to left field. After taking a couple of pitches, and fouling a few off, you get a pitch you like and hit a screaming line drive into left field. Success, right? Now, at the same time tho, the left fielder is paying attention, he takes a quick step as soon as you make contact, runs hard, dives like Superman, and catches the ball. Are you still successful?
We can’t control the outcome, We can only control what we can control.
I was working on this webinar – you may have heard of it? Something to do with blocks? 4½ of them – Being held the next 3 Tuesdays? — and I was talking with folks about some of the concepts. One person totally got the point. The feedback I received was that my concept was well explained and made perfect sense.
I told someone else, and they didn’t even seem to understand what I was saying. The point here is that I said the same thing in the same way and 2 people heard it completely differently. What can I do about that? Well, I’ve heard there are methods of teaching using different algorithms to get the message across to different learning styles, but my point is – ALL WE CAN DO IS THE BEST WE CAN DO. We can not guarantee the outcome. We do the best we can to deliver the message. We cannot control how the message is received.
How does that apply to you? Be clear, be focused on what you’re doing. Make sure you’re walking the path of your design. And be ready for whatever happens. How do you do that? Take your swings. Learn your craft. Do your scales. Plant your seeds. Then, knowing you’ve done all you can, release attachment to the outcome. Doesn’t matter, you’ve put your best foot forward. What will be will be. Que sera, sera! Release attachment to the outcome.
If you are speaking, be as clear as you can, but know that people will hear what you say through their filters. In your business, if you plant enough seeds, rain will wash some away, the birds will eat some, but the crops will grow. Using that baseball analogy, you did what you set out to do, which is put good wood on the ball and hit a solid line drive. That’s what you can control. Do enough of that and many of your batted balls will find plenty of grass.
One more point. Apply this concept to your life. Think about what you’re trying to accomplish. I’m going to stick with the baseball analogy. What you wanted to do was hit the ball hard. You did that. And if what you find yourself noticing that you’re not ‘hitting the ball hard’? What do you say to yourself? Instead of saying “I’ve been in a slump for the last week and don’t know why.” Which is being at the effect of the event, or what we call victim mode, try turning that into, “I have been swinging at bad pitches for the last week and I need to correct that.” which puts you at cause, or in the driver’s seat.
Consciously focus on what you can control. And accept whatever happens, but know that you’ve already succeeded. You are already a success. Just sayin’