Have you ever wondered why certain things that need to be done or should be done just never quite get done? It’s almost as if there is some sort of invisible barrier holding us back from all the important yet incomplete intentions. The source of that interference is our own mind. Our thoughts often form those invisible
Which pedal do you push when you see a yellow light? Do you hit the brakes or do you hit the gas? I realize that there are people who don’t gas it through an intersection and still get things done. I am just trying to point out a similar reaction to a challenge. Not everyone hesitates in
Those who chronically fall short have learned that it is acceptable to fall short. They have learned all about excuses and justifying compromises and disappointment. They have learned that people will understand what they were up against and that the reasonable response to their challenge was to disappoint the team because challenges are hard. They might have
How do you see a yellow light at an intersection? Do you hit the gas or the breaks? This can be a metaphor for how people see a deadline. The first type of person finds a reason to fall short and the second tends to get things done. Both types face similar challenges with different outcomes. The
High standards are only maintained when I have the ability to delay gratification. It’s not just about being willing to go a minute without complete entertainment. That reality can only happen if I am able to see past those boring minutes to the moment when my effort and attention to detail results in a job well done.
Once I have accomplished a certain objective, I can fall into the trap of relaxing without a care for possible unknowns. That attitude isn’t worried about the high standard. That attitude is more concerned about completing what has become a boring task. A commitment to a high standard must come with a willingness to not be entertained
When I make the choice to cut a corner, I am likely underestimating the effort required to pull off my objectives with the highest standard. I find that this is often the case when I have easily accomplished my objective in the past and the objective is more of a repeat performance than a true accomplishment. This
Our circumstances are not completely within our control, but we do have responsibility for the chosen level of effort we put forth. The main reason we lower our standards in the midst of our challenging circumstances is because we failed in our preparations prior to the event. This could be due to lack of experience or procrastination
I have noticed our circumstances affect our standards far more than our stated values and convictions. This doesn’t make us phony because we all believe that we have higher standards but we may not be aware of how much the pressure of our circumstances causes us to aim much lower than we would ever care to admit.
A false dichotomy can often hold a team back. Philosophies do not have to be as mutually exclusive as we like to make them out to be. Teams should avoid identifying themselves with a single methodology. This is often done when we allow ourselves to become fans of a way to do things. This fan mindset places