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When you’re enthusiastic and passionate about something, it’s contagious.
When you’re dour, dull and disinterested, it’s catching.
When you’re confident and in control, it has a calming effect on others.
When you panic and act frantically, those around you start to look over their shoulders as well.
When you’re focused and working hard, those around you are more likely to do the same.
When you slack off, those around you also look for an excuse to give less than their best.
Some people change the world through music, art or poetry.
Some people change the world by creating extraordinary products that change the way we live.
Some people change the world by standing up to injustice, often at considerable personal cost.
Some people change the world by leading businesses that engage their people to do great work.
Some people change the world by healing the pain of the less fortunate and speaking for those who have no voice.
Every action that you take…
Every time that you work on your craft…
Every call you make…
Every item you cross off your list…
Every time you deliver phenomenal service to a customer…
Every time you respond immediately to a great idea…
Every single time you do something that matters, you get one step closer to your goal.
Transperth B-series train (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Imagine a train at a station.
It takes a lot to get it moving.
A lot of energy, a lot of power.
And even then, progress is slow, the wheels seem to meander around.
But then, something shifts.
The wheels turn faster, momentum builds and before too long, the train is an unstoppable force.
It’s possible to buy insurance for almost anything these days.
Insurance salesmen are peddling life insurance, house and contents insurance, car insurance, boat insurance, health insurance and travel insurance.
Such insurance is meant to protect us from the unforeseen circumstances that occasionally happen in life.
So what do I mean by career insurance?
I’m not talking about income protection insurance in case you get injured at work (although I’m told that’s a good idea).
I’m talking about ensuring that your career is safe in the years ahead. Protecting you from the unknown future that will be impacted by inevitable and inexorable change, technological advances, global competition and other unforeseen pressures.
Is there really such a thing?
Can you really buy insurance that protects you from massive change and from the possibility that your job (or even industry) may not even exist in the future?
To the singer who auditions for a reality TV show, but doesn’t get through to the next level…
Your dream isn’t over, get back to work.
To the job applicant who misses out on her dream job after an arduous interview process…
Your dream isn’t over, get back to work.
To the writer whose manuscript is rejected (again)…
Your dream isn’t over, get back to work.
Cosmo Kramer (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
In the iconic Seinfeld episode (aren’t they all?) the Pony Remark, Jerry bets Kramer that he won’t finish his renovation to build levels in his apartment.
Of course, Jerry wins the bet and the following conversation takes place:
JERRY: So, when do I get my dinner?
KRAMER: There’s no dinner. The bet’s off. I’m not gonna do it.
JERRY: Yes. I know you’re not gonna do it. That’s why I bet.
KRAMER: There’s not bet if I’m not doing it.
JERRY: That’s the bet! That you’re not doing it!
I’ve written about a lot of inspiring people on this blog.
Most of them are high profile success stories who have achieved remarkable, famous accomplishments that we have all heard of and applauded.
However, I have also come across a lot of other inspiring people.
They are friends, contacts or clients who are largely anonymous, but still have an impact through their passion and actions.
They include the mate who lost 20 kilos through a disciplined exercise regime that has re-energised his life.
In John Piper’s “Don’t Waste Your Life” he says, ”I will tell you what a tragedy is. I will show you how to waste your life. Consider this story from the February 1998 Reader’s Digest:
A couple took early retirement from their jobs in the Northeast five years ago when he was 59 and she was 51. Now they live in Punta Gorda, Florida, where they cruise on their 30-foot trawler, play softball and collect shells.
Piper goes on to say, “Picture them before Christ at the great day of judgment: ‘Look, Lord. See my shells.’ That is a tragedy.”
I couldn’t agree more and this is a great example of a wasted life.
Too many people waste their lives by ignoring the important (if difficult) challenges that they were created for and spend it on trivial and inane activities.
