Distraction-Proof® Advisor Ideas

2008 Preparing for Excellence Series – Issue 6

We all can bring to mind images of "the thrill of victory." And, more than likely, the picture in your mind is of an athlete exuberantly celebrating success.

These types of images are crucial to keep athletes focused, motivated, and driven to keep paying the price required to fulfill their dreams of athletic success.

But as executives, we typically don't have access to pictures of Bill Gates high-fiving Microsoft's board as they announce they've smashed their quarterly targets, nor do we have video of Meg Whitman throwing her arms up in exultation when eBay reports yet another victorious year of profits. At best we might see and read about business superstars annually, when trade publications do their yearly "Who's Who" round up.

Yet, we still need a picture of what success looks like. When we can see, even if only in our mind's eye, images of discipline, focus, and victory, it helps us keep our pursuit of our long term objectives fresh and stimulating. Being able to vividly imagine what determination, perseverance, and exultation all look and feel like provides us with inspiration, helps us gain clarity, and assists us in building courage.

Because motivational images of executives aren't as abundant and accessible as the sports images athletes have available to them, when looking to others for inspiration professionals can fall into the trap of comparison with others. Aiming for the strongest result you can produce can subtly transform into wanting to produce larger figures than someone else. The focus can easily shift to beating someone rather than performing at your personal best.

By consciously avoiding the comparison game, we can keep our objectives definite, measurable, and challenging, for our own benefit. What good does it do you to "beat" someone else, if they have performed poorly? If your potential is much greater than another person's, simply performing better than them may still leave tremendous achievements you are capable of completely unexplored.

It's a popular time of year to assess our goals. Check to make sure you are headed to where you can deeply and genuinely experience your own thrill of victory, regardless of how others around you perform. A truly useful and motivating image of winning actually has nothing to do with beating anyone. Get excited about stretching yourself to do something new, which you've never achieved before, rather than simply doing marginally more than someone else.

Move through 2008 like the Olympians who are en route to success later this year:

• with a clear picture of your own success in your mind,

• a definite purpose for everything you do, and

• the expectation that greatness is inevitable.

Have a great start to this Olympic year!

– Paul

Copyright Paul Kingsman 2008
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Learn how to truly win from an Olympic medalist! Paul Kingsman – Olympic medalist, professional speaker and executive coach – works with his clients to help them focus on their success and experience the thrill of victory. To find out more about how he can equip you or your team for Split Second Success® through keynote speaking or executive coaching, contact him at http://www.paulkingsman.com.

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