“The first step towards getting somewhere is to decide you’re not going to stay where you are.” – John Pierpont Morgan
That quote by J.P. Morgan is incredible. I’m not usually one for quotes, but this one came to me at the right time. Over the last few months, I’ve watched my wife endure and overcome a horrible medical emergency. I almost lost her. I stayed by her hospital bed for 5 days. I prayed. I cried and I thought.
What I began thinking really bothered me. That’s because those thoughts were centered around “what ifs”. Well, thank God, the biggest “what if” was removed, as I brought my love home, she survived and she fought. I can’t tell you how much I admire her for her fight and will. That’s when my 2nd biggest “what if” came strongly into focus.
What if I fought as hard as she did? What if I wouldn’t take no for an answer and had the same strength and will that my wife showed over the last few months? What if I decided not to accept the cards that have been dealt and chose to “re-shuffle”?
Then I saw the quote above and realized the answer was right before my eyes. It’s actually been there all along. The answer being to simply not accept what’s going on around you.
As J.P. Morgan said, “decide that you’re not going to stay where you are.” My wife won her fight by not accepting the cards that she was dealt and today, I’m not accepting mine either. I’ve lived the cliche, “Life’s Too Short”.
So what’s going to happen today and why should you care? Well, I’m sharing this with you so that if you’re in a situation where you feel unmotivated, shackled, stale and unhappy, you can follow these steps that I’m going to take to change your focus, outlook and direction.
1. Stop Following Bad Direction: I know what I’m doing. I’m experienced, knowledgeable and extremely valuable. I’m no longer taking any counsel or direction from people who know less than me. I’m no longer interested in your opinion. If you can’t back up statements with substantiated fact, then your words are going to fall on deaf ears and I’m shutting you down.
2. Seek Out True Counsel: I’m going to rely on those in the dugout who have been through it and know what they’re talking about. Here’s the key. It doesn’t matter where they are. If I have a question or stumbling block, I’m going to seek counsel from them. My network is pretty big and isn’t that what’s social media for anyway?
3. Redefine Commitment: I’m only going to focus on things that I find important. The trivial, stupid, timesucks are history. No meetings without purpose. No walk-ins allowed. No impromptu B.S. sessions. Everyday I will have a plan and everyday I will execute that plan. If you’re not a part of that plan then that’s your problem.
4. Visualize: Here’s a video for you to watch to describe the type of visualization you need to have:
5. Gather Intel: I know what my target is. I’ll share it with you as I don’t fear anyone coming between me and my target. I’m a social media professional. I love what I do and I feel that I’m quite confident in my capabilities. I want to work with brands and businesses that want to take social to the next level centered around giving people what they want. That being sports and entertainment promotions.
My approach is simple. I’m gathering information on brands by looking at the work that their agencies are doing for them. I’m focusing on those who have lackluster metrics on Facebook and Twitter. I’m going to be approaching some of these brands and showing them how they are making mistakes in their social approach or being ripped off by an agency they have retained.
Whatever your business, you can do the same. There are so many hacks out there that it won’t be hard for me and shouldn’t be hard for you to find many targets of opportunity. You just have to be ready to act. And remember, only look to work with those brands who believe what you believe.
Hint: If you do your homework and present cold hard intel to these targets, the mission can be accomplished quickly.
6. Take No Prisoners: I’m no longer interested in your pep talks, flowery words, and hollow ideologies. I’m taking a Seal Team 6 approach to things. I’m going in understanding that this might be a suicide mission. But I understand what needs to be done and what it’s worth. I’ve done all of my intel and I’m going in to take what’s mine and eliminate the hostiles. No, I’m not going to shoot anyone. What I’m saying is I have a mission and nothing will deter me from that mission.
7. No Rules! …that one is pretty much self-explanatory.
8. The Objective: Happiness. Yep…that’s the objective. You see, if the past few months have has taught me anything, it’s that it’s time for me to stop, enjoy the vistas, smell the roses, and be happy.
You have to take your own inventory and determine what will make you happy. Then once you determine that, go make it happen.
And don’t let anyone get between you and your happiness.
