As we are navigating through this “new normal” (hopefully temporary normal) – I was having a particularly annoying moment when one of my mentors said the following to me…. look in the mirror and ask yourself “What does great look like to me today and how do I plan to get there?” Today, GREAT looks like having a successful phone call with my client and how he is faring in this crazy environment. To make sure I see great in each day, I have to take it One day at a time – this is how I have to deal with my days right now… I have to look at my day each day as a new day. For me, do not show me a countdown clock on how many selling days left this week – this month – this quarter – to stay motivated…. I have to take it ONE DAY AT A TIME! With the current situation, I cannot look too far ahead as I really get honestly, just unmotivated! As another co-worker said today “The 1st Rule of Quarantine is there are no rules in quarantine”. This rang so true to me – I cannot work as I did 45 days ago, 60 days ago, this time last year! Just one day at a time…….
If you were asked this question today by someone regarding your business, your clients, your products or services, your life… how would YOU answer – What does great mean to you?
For me – the value of this question is that it can be applied to nearly every area of my life – personal, professional, client relationships, etc….. I want to be great in all aspects of my life! But, can I be is another question (for another day)……..
TO BE GREAT AT MY JOB – I want to cultivate my relationships with my clients so they look to me as a partner rather than a provider or just another “seller”. I want them to ask me for advice, suggestions and recommendations on ideas they may have. I want to collaborate with them – ideas and suggestions for getting through these currently murky waters. I don’t want them to feel like I am just selling to them – I want them to know that I have their best interest at heart for each and every one of them, and I know that “gimmicks” and “quick cash sales” are not quality campaigns and a campaign for one of my partners is not always a “one size fits all” for every client I have. That’s what I want to do each day to be great! I want to build partnerships and relationships.
TO BE GREAT IN MY PERSONAL LIFE – Just like in my professional arena, personally I also want to cultivate my relationships with my friends and family. Did you know that friends can bring more happiness into our lives than virtually anything else? Positive relationships have a huge impact on your mental health and happiness. Good friends and family relieve stress, provide comfort and joy, and prevent loneliness and isolation. They are a trusting source and can help you reach your goals. Relationships and friendships are a two-way street, and the “give” side of the give-and-take contributes to your own sense of self-worth. Being there for your friends and family makes you feel needed and also adds purpose to your life.
With all of the gloom and doom being shouted across all media…. yes, I get sucked in listening and start buying into it at times…. I find myself realizing that to be great I also have to be MOTIVATED! I have to find a way to get back up and get going when all I really want to do is literally just nothing some days!
Here is what I have discovered works for me to get re-motivated when I am feeling the pressure and not feeling “so great“:
- Set One Goal. Trying to do too much at once right now, saps my energy and motivation. I find myself trying to take on too much knowing I am limited in how I can interact with my clients, how I can talk to them and collaborate with them. I find myself quickly losing my focus and energy. So, I have to prioritize and chose one goal at a time. I can be great at that one goal!
- Find daily inspiration. Inspiration for me comes from reading social media, quotes, articles, books, writing down my random thoughts, changing my work scenery each morning – inside some days, outside others – I tend to be able to find inspiration with these things. Finding inspiration makes me feel like I can be great in the moment.
- Overcome Fear of Failure. Sometimes my biggest fear of failing has set me up for my greatest success. Making that one dreaded phone call can turn into the best partnership you have with a client. Just do it. Name your fears, list them, write them down – attack them one at a time, one fear a day!
- Identify I am actually suffering from a form of GRIEF. At the beginning of all this change, I went through a phase of wondering if I should or could hang on to the way things were and grieving what I will be losing as I make these changes. I tried to do “business as usual” even though I knew I had to change how I handled and interacted with my clients. I miss the personal contact, I miss the relationships, I miss my co-workers. I miss the connection with other people. It is grief – but I am dealing with it one day at a time.
What I want to do each day is to be great – I want to build strong partnerships and relationships – whether in my personal or professional life!
I am doing this ONE DAY AT A TIME!