The Past is But Ashes

I had a colleague that was in sales. He had a sales manager that each month would say to his team when they would hit their revenue goal, "The past is but ashes, what will you do next month?" Seems a little harsh but I guess from a sales manager's perspective you don't want your people to sit too long on their accomplishments and want to push them toward success in the next month, next quarter and next year.

Tied to this same concept is the statement, "Past performance is no guarantee of future success." In some cases, I am sure this is very true. There are some authors and musicians that are considered to be "one hit wonders." They achieve a measure of success one time and are then unable to replicate the success. Even worse, they become satisfied and lazy with their initial success and don't push themselves towards excellence a second time.

A key point in all of this is the fact that just because you were successful once doesn't mean that you are guaranteed automatic success. It will probably take just as much hard work, blood, sweat and tears as it did the first time. The nice thing about the second time is that you do have the past experience and the taste of success that drives you toward success again. Push yourself towards success again and again. Don't sit around in the ashes.

Who Is Watching You?

Watch a trapeze act and you most likely will see an individual or two out of the spotlight whose job it is to keep an eye on the rigging. They are to watch the safety lines, the high wire and any other mechanical elements of the equipment that could malfunction, and cause harm to the performers or to the audience.

In a similar way, who is watching out for you? Beyond your spouse or immediate family members, who is keeping an eye out to make sure you are performing at your highest level? They are the ones who notice when you are not following your normal routine or living out your priorities as you usually do. Their role, like that of the trapeze act, is critical because they can pull us back from danger (physical, mental, or financial) before we have done some real damage to ourselves or others.

If you don't have that type of support person or persons in your life, we suggest you start finding some to be part of your team. They could make a real difference in whether your circus gets the standing ovation you really want.

Plant Your Feet

I loved to played basketball as a kid. I am fairly tall and as a result played mostly down under the basket. I remember as I was learning the fundamentals of the game that I had a coach who would get after me for not "taking an offensive foul." You see, I loved to try to block shots instead. Taking an offensive foul means that you get in front of a player with the ball, plant your feet and then allowed the player to knock you over. If your feet are planted, a foul is called on the other player and your team gets the ball. But like I said, I would jump in the air instead and try to knock the ball away…sometimes resulting in a foul on me. I can still hear my coach yelling, "Plant your feet! Plant your feet."

Abraham Lincoln once said, "Be sure you put your feet in the right place, then stand firm." I am pretty sure that he wasn't talking about basketball. Instead, Mr. Lincoln makes a couple of key points with this little line on how we should live our lives.

Point 1 – Be sure that you put your feet in the right place. It is important to study and learn and identify what you stand for. What is important for you? What do you believe in? Write it down. Commit it to memory. Review it daily or weekly so that you don't forget.

Point 2 – "…then stand firm." There almost always comes a moment of truth when your values are tested and you have the choice to stand firm, waiver or even step aside. Pain and heartache can occur when you waiver or step aside. Decide to stand firm! Plant your feet and take the charge.

The Three Rings Are All Important To Employees

Stacy Argoudelis with the Essex Companies has written a strong piece about the need to engage an employee by recognizing the "total person," or as we would say in Juggling Elephants, all 3 rings. She writes:

Today’s employee is looking for the whole package when it comes to employment. Offering competitive salaries and benefits doesn’t spell retention in all cases. Acknowledging the unique, personal sides of an employee and recognizing their need to develop a rewarding, satisfying worklife are keys to keeping a full, thriving staff.

She also highlights the benefit of a rejuvenated current employee instead of having to hire and train a new employee.

You can read the entire article by clicking here.

Being in the Now

Do you ever find yourself thinking too much about the past? Do you think of a better time when you were happier, skinnier, got more sleep or when gas was just 99 cents?

Do you find yourself thinking too much about the future? Some day when you will have more money, when you will have a new job, when the kids are older or you have that new car?

There is nothing wrong about doing a little reminiscing. It is a good thing to learn from the past. And it is also a good thing to have positive dreams and set goals for the future. But be sure that you spend plenty of time, being in the now. The now is when you will get the work done that will pay off for a brighter future. The now is when you can make up for the past or improve on what you have already accomplished. It is important to focus and be in the now, especially in your relationships, your day-to-day work and personal conversations (not to mention when you are driving a car). Otherwise, you will be distracted, the quality of what you do will be poor and you will have more and more occasion to say, "should of, would of, could of."