It’s the Third Question For Me
Why do some people succeed while others flounder? Is it luck? Good/bad fortune? Circumstance? I think about this a lot as I watch people all around me.
One of my favorite speakers at the Global Leadership Summit this year was former Alabama football coach Nick Saban. Coach Saban is arguably one of the best football coaches of all time, with a resume to back it up. One of the most interesting things he talked about at the Summit was how he approached his players.
When he first met a player, he would ask them three questions:
What are your personal goals? Some players wanted to be a starter. Some wanted to graduate. Some wanted to make the NFL.
Working backward, what do you need to do to achieve those goals? In other words, if a player wanted to make the NFL, what specific steps would the player need to take to make it happen?
Are you willing to do what it takes to see it through?
It's the third question for me! Lots of people have goals. Some people plot out the steps to make it happen. Few have the fortitude to actually achieve them. Talk is cheap, action is work, and perpetual consistency is tremendously difficult.
Very few people have the fortitude to do what it actually takes to achieve the goal. I'll give you two personal examples. For years, I've wanted to be a high-level professional speaker. I absolutely love the idea. However, a few years ago, I plotted out what I would need to do to make it happen. Truthfully, I'm not willing to do what it takes to make it happen. I used to feel guilty about that, but when push came to shove, the cost for other areas of my life wasn't worth the prize. I've mourned that loss, but it's an intentional choice.
Here's the other side of that coin. TJ, my Northern Vessel business partner, has a unique dream. He wants to create the single best coffee shop in America. Just like the speaking dream, we've drawn out what needs to happen to bring that dream to life. We know what must be done. Finally, the third question: Are we willing to do what it takes to see it through?
The answer is a resounding "Yes!" We're 100% able, willing, and excited to do what needs to be done to bring that dream to life. It's a brutal endeavor, but a beautiful one. It's become one of the greatest joys of my life, and I never take that for granted. Will we actually become the best coffee shop in America? Time will tell, but we're committed to the pursuit of excellence.
That third question is what matters most. Think about what you want most. Really think about it! Are you willing to do what it takes to bring it to life? The honest answer to that question probably tells you everything you need to know.
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