Set Yourself Up to Win

I am putting the finishing touches on a speech for tomorrow. I can remember many years ago when I would have been quite nervous right now. Instead, I have a real sense of positive anticipation...I am looking forward to presenting. What is the difference? Well, I have many hundreds of presentations under my belt now, but that isn't what made the difference. I will tell what did make virtually all of the difference.

I can't fail! Wow. Pretty bold statement, but let me make it clearer. I have set up and rehearsed my definitions for success so that I just cannot fail, whatever happens tomorrow. Since I can't fail, I can focus instead on doing my best.

Here is my current definition for a successful speech:

1) I show up.
2) I do the best that I can at that time...at the moments that I am presenting I will do my best.
3) I will learn something to make my next presentation even better.
4) I will do my best to have fun.
5) I will do my best to help the audience to have fun.

As long as I do these things, I have been successful and I will celebrate! Pretty hard for me to fail huh?

Notice that everything in my definition of success is controlled completely by me. At the moment of presenting, I can only focus on things that I will be able to control.

This same philosophy works wonders in so many areas where people are afraid of failure. The definitions of success that they have are terrifying them. Create definitions that empower you to take action and you will figure out how to continually make the results better.

We will explore this topic in some depth this week. There is power and profound knowledge here. Bye for now...Jack