Of course you want to do everything well. Most of us do. But after a while the mistakes you make take their toll. The level of quality required in most jobs is remarkably high. Couple that with the extremely high level of standards that we set for ourselves.
A good portion of my coaching time is spent helping others manage expectations and stress. To illustrate my point, let’s consider an insight from the world of professional sports. J.J. Watt with the Houston Texans is a dominant figure in the NFL. In 16 games he had 80 combined tackles—a very impressive stat. Translating this record into layman’s terms, Watt was involved in only 9% of all possible tackles. One could therefore conclude that 91% of the time Watt failed. Yet, he just signed a six year extension on his contract for $100 million because he does much more than just tackle. He covers openings, assists fellow players, continuously works to improve, maintains a winning spirit among his team, and he knows how to get in the competition’s head.
Our jobs are more than just tackling, and should be defined by more than just one dimension. We need to better understand expectations for our own work and how we manage those expectations. Consider the following two thoughts:
Accept the fact that making mistakes is normal!
We all make them and life is full of them. If you really want to get ahead in life—NOT by using people along the way–then you have to accept the fact that unintentionally you are going to do many things wrong! The solution is to adjust your mindset on how you view mistakes. No, nobody wants to mess up. But when you do – learn from it. And, since your associates play such a key role in your life, they need to allow you the right to make mistakes as part of your growth cycle – as long as you learn from each one, and show a genuine effort to not repeat them.
Never stop learning!
There is a phrase that I have often used in training sessions to bluntly illustrate the difference between someone who chooses to stop learning and someone who hungers to learn more: “When you’re green you grow, when you’re ripe you rot.” Are you green? How hungry are you to learn? Today we have access to the greatest treasure trove of information that the world has ever known. How we take advantage of this miraculous smorgasbord of knowledge, literally in the palm of our hand, is our choice. Do you use this vast resource to further your knowledge in areas that will help you improve? What do you search for and how do you use it? How are you leveraging it to improve what you really want out of life? The answers to these questions will be clear indicators of your desire to grow and progress.
These two tips should help you in your quest to stay motivated and improve. Combine a practical attitude toward making mistakes with an eager desire to become better by increasing your knowledge. This tandem of the above two thoughts will have a major effect on your effectiveness and sustainability. Consider applying them in your own life. It is worth it!