The Secret Sauce to SUCCESS? Being a quick study.
If something goes wrong, just yell "PLOT TWIST" and move on.
The quicker and more proactively we respond to a "course-correction," the quicker we can turn that experience into something that serves us rather than sabotages us.
As the saying goes, "There are no mistakes, only lessons."
It’s hard to believe, but it was only five years ago that Serena Williams suffered what could have been life/career-ending injuries, including two foot surgeries and a pulmonary embolism. Serena is quoted as saying she didn't know if she would "get out of the hospital," much less play tennis again. In 2011, her sister Venus Williams was diagnosed with #SjogrensSyndrome, an auto-immune disease that causes numbness, joint pain, swelling and extreme fatigue.
Yet, today, Serena won her 22nd grand slam title at Wimbledon to tie Steffi Graf, and she and Venus are playing in the doubles final, (even though they were ranked #250 in the world and unseeded in the doubles draw of this tournament).
I can only imagine Serena and Venus were tempted to give up when they were in pain, when they could hardly walk. It would have been so easy to give up when all looked bleak.
But they wasn’t finished. They weren't willing to turn their backs on their talent. They believed they still had greatness in them.
Instead of abandoning their dream, they re-dedicated themselves and chose to use those setbacks as INCENTIVE vs. an EXCUSE.
As a result of re-committing themselves to doing and being their best and fighting for what they cared about, they’ve reached a much-welcomed oasis of success.
The beauty of this? Their success is not a mirage; it is a well-earned reality.
Their success is a result of deciding that what they wanted mattered enough to to persevere through the dark times … even when there were no guarantees.
How about you? Are you in the desert of your dream?
Are things not working out the way you hoped? Have you received bad news? Are people not seeing what you’re seeing, not believing what you’re believing?
If you’re an entrepreneur, are you not getting the clients or contracts you deserve?
If you’re in an organization, are you not getting the projects or promotions you deserve?
If you’re in between jobs, are you not getting the interviews, call-backs or offers you deserve?
Are you planning your own adventure - your own version of a Year by the Water - but it's not coming together as you hoped?
Could you choose to “pull a Serena?” Could you persevere like Venus?
Could you remember who you are and what you want and choose to live forward ... no matter what?
Soren Kierkegaard said, “Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards.”
Looking backwards, every successful person will tell you there were setbacks along the way that seemed unsurmoutable - that could have drained their conviction and caused them to quit.
Instead, they transcended those doubts and carried on through the down times. In doing so, they re-established momentum and moved closer to making their dream a well-earned reality.
As Winston Churchill said, “Success is not final, failure is not fatal; it is the courage to continue that counts.” He also said, "If you're going through hell, keep going."
If you are facing setbacks, remember who you are and what you want. Choose to see those setbacks as incentive rather than as an excuse.
Believe in your dream. Believe in yourself. Keep the courage. Continue.
Have you heard?
Paris is experiencing historic flooding, the worst in 34 years. Many institutions and visitor attractions (e.g., the Louvre) are closed.
That includes Monet's Garden in Giverny where I'm taking a private workshop with world-renowned photographers Charles Needle and Dewitt Jones.
I appreciate my fellow participants' response to the news. No pouts or complaints.
Everyone simply adjusted their mental lens and switched their focus to the many other metaphorical doors awaiting their attention and appreciation.
it reminded me of something that happened years ago when the boys were growing up on Maui.
We had planned a party following the final game of their soccer season. We rented the only public pool on the island, assigned food duties and ordered trophies.
(Yes, Tom and Andrew were part of the generation where every kid received a trophy. One time, I "rebelled" and ordered mugs with the team's picture, thinking the kids would enjoy having something they could use that would bring back fond memories of that season. Not a popular decision. Suffice it to say, we went back to trophies ... although we still use those mugs. Just saying:-)
The team won their final game so everyone headed to the pool in high spirits and with great expectations. We arrived with our floats, pool gear and water guns ... only to find the pool closed.
Bummer. We called the local park and recreation district. No answer. We rattled the padlocked gates. No luck. We walked around hoping to find another way in. Not happening.
The coach was fuming "I called them weeks ago to make this reservation. I've got the confirmation right here." The parents milled around, upset, aimless, unsure what to do.
The kids knew what to do. They grabbed a ball from the back of a van and seconds later, were laughing and having a great time playing an impromptu game of soccer on the concrete parking lot.
Hmmm. We parents looked at each other and realized we could still have our party right there in the parking lot. Out came the food, chairs and music, and moments later we were having a great time too.
Since then, every time a door (or pool) closes, I remember the lesson the kids' modeled for us that day and try to focus on Helen Keller's enduring insight:
"When one door of happiness closes, another opens; but often we look so long at the closed door we do not see the one which has opened for us."
How about you?
Have you had a door close recently on something you were counting on, something you were looking forward to?
Are you gazing at the closed door, upset, aimless, unsure what to do ... dwelling on how disappointing this is for you?
Could you instead adjust your mental lens and switch your focus to the open doors awaiting your attention and appreciation?
As Yousuf Karsh said, "The heart and mind are the true lens of the camera.
P.S. Yes, I took these photos ... getting better at capturing images. It's easier when surrounded by the beauty of Giverny:-)