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If I Were Amazing
by Jim Stovall Each of us are confronted with a myriad of tasks each day that require our attention. Most of us allow far too many things to get onto our calendar or day planner. There are very few things that are truly important or critical enough to require your immediate and personal attention; therefore, we go through our day confronting routine items while asking ourselves: “What do I have to do?” If we did fewer things but did them better, we would find ourselves achieving and moving ahead faster. Once we get our daily list cut down to a manageable number of things that are truly significant and need our personal attention, instead of asking, “What’s the least I can get away with?” we should ask ourselves one of the most powerful questions I have ever discovered. When confronting tasks before you, simply ask yourself,
“What would I do if I were amazing?” This is a hard question for us to contemplate, because most days we don’t feel amazing. Remember that all you need to do to be amazing is to do amazing things. These things can come to you easily when you simply ask yourself, “What would I do if I were amazing?” My friend and mentor, Coach John Wooden, often cautioned his players as well as top level executives as they were achieving a certain amount of fame or notoriety, “You will be known for a lifetime of good things you do or one stupid thing that you do.” You and I all know the names of people who will forever be known for one stupid statement, misstep, or moral lapse. I agree with Coach Wooden that this should always be avoided; however, the converse is true and can give each of us power beyond belief. You can rise out of mediocrity and normality by doing one amazing thing, whether it’s a hockey player making an incredible shot just as his team needed it; a business or political leader delivering an immortal message that touched our hearts, minds, or souls; an airline pilot who saves 150 lives by successfully using the Hudson River for a runway; or simply someone who goes above and beyond in their daily lives. Every day we encounter numerous people in a myriad of situations. Each occasion gives us the opportunity to perform normally or as expected. When we do this, it will be forgettable, routine, and everyone will walk away without noticing anything. If you choose to act in a manner that is less than expected, you will encounter complaints, resistance, and anger. The communication will be remembered by everyone involved and label you as inadequate or incompetent. On the other hand, by performing a routine task as if you were amazing, you not only change your own behavior, but you become unforgettable and can actually change the behavior of others. As you go through your day today, eliminate opportunities to be average, and seek ways to be amazing. Today’s the day!
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