I want to share one of the greatest life check questions you can honestly ask yourself. It will help you cut through the minutia of your circumstances and truly track the big picture trajectory of your life..."Is the boat better because I am on it?".
You will find yourself in many boats throughout each day and over the course of your life...friendships, job, team, school, marriage, family, etc., and if the answer is that the boat isn't better because you are on it, you need to find a way to start contributing before you get thrown overboard or become exhausted rowing (possibly in the wrong direction of everyone else) and going nowhere. Not in a self-focused, save my tail sort of way, but so you can experience the joy of being a part of something and know that you bring value to others...knowing that you make wherever you are exceedingly better than if you weren't there at all. This is what allows us to sleep well at night and to get up the next morning, eager and expectant to crush whatever opportunity life offers you! It will cancel out the "Groundhog Day" feeling, where it is the exact same stuff but different day which causes life to become monotonous and you slowly lose your joy. Are you contributing and making others better, or are you dead weight and slowing others down?
Whether it's landing a business deal or winning a game, there is nothing greater than knowing in your heart of hearts that you were a vital piece to the outcome because you gave your best. Everyone has their role and is an integral piece in the team's success. Even when the fans are into it they are called the "Extra Man" during sporting events because it can change the environment of a game and give one team an advantage. You can lead from wherever you are, from the field or from the bench. You can be the teammate that helps get the starters ready by training and giving your all at every practice sharpening their skills as well as your own, you can be the greatest encourager that helps everyone push through when it's hard, or you may be the team leader that sets the bar high and helps others reach for it and achieve it.
Someone that chooses a YOU NOT ME Mindset goes the extra mile for others. They don't just do what's required and stop, they look around to see what else they can do to make the team better. They stay after work or practice to help mentor a teammate to improve or to meet a deadline knowing that they are successful and significant when the team is successful. They know that one of the keys to life is to find a way to make every boat they are on better. Is the boat better because you are on it?
Thank you so much for reading, it is an honor to have your time! I hope something in this piece resonated with you and helped shift your mindset. If it did, please share it with friends that could benefit from it and would want to join our movement to change the world around you by focusing on YOU NOT ME.
-Chris
Copyright 2018
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