As I mentioned two weeks ago, I was reflecting on 2015 while on a plane home from Lafayette, LA; and three moments from the year stood out to me as “special moments”. I want to share these moments with you. I shared the first two on the 17th and 24th, respectively; and today, on New Year’s Eve, I’d like to share the third. If you’ve challenged yourself with any resolutions in 2016, this story might be relevant to you…
On a Friday night during baseball season of my junior year in high school, we were playing Vero Beach High School at their field. I was the catcher for Merritt Island High School (both schools are on the east coast of Florida). In the 1980s, Merritt Island and Vero Beach were bitter rivals, and even though it was early in the season, this was a pretty big game. Well, I struck out three times. We won the game, but I struck out three times, and I didn’t strike out three times in games.
On the drive home, I was pissed. I was angry and disappointed with myself, but I wasn’t concerned. I knew how to deal with these blows. The next morning I was at our field by about 9:00 and probably took 300 swings off the tee. I knew my issue. I was casting; which means that I was extending my hands too early, like casting a fishing rod. The solution was to take a bunch of swings off the tee while standing close to a fence – forcing me to keep my hands in until the last second. After my work on the tee, a good friend of mine and our second baseman, Andy Williams, joined me for several rounds of batting practice. We left about 4:30 in the afternoon. I was fixed. From that point on, I was productive at the plate.
That’s how I used to handle things. Nothing was going to get in my way. I had an arrogance that was rooted in the concept that I’ll out-work anyone. It was a simple formula – if I get kicked in the gut, come out kicking harder. It worked every single time … until I graduated from college and the real world smacked me in the face.
I won’t digress about my real world stories of my mid-20s – they’re probably the same as yours. I realized quickly that simply working harder wasn’t a perfect formula like it was in high school and college. I needed to be more strategic, less intense, and accept some failures. While these are true statements and I eventually figured it out (translation: became an adult), I sure do miss that arrogant 16-year-old that didn’t worry about outcomes – he just knew he’d work through it. I really miss that feeling. I really miss that guy.
Well, this past February I got kicked in the gut much worse than I did that night in Vero Beach. I had two major set-backs in my business happen within 15 hours. These set-backs were real – two major projects that were scheduled to start on March 3 were pulled because of slow starts to the year (remember the crazy winter last year that delayed a ton of work). I wasn’t at the practice field the next morning; I was at my computer figuring out how to fill the holes in my revenue for the next few months. The next week or two I was at the office before 5:00 am to knock out my project work and be able to add some effort to marketing and business development during normal work hours. That’s when it happened…
My wife was on the phone with a friend and made the comment: “I doubt he’ll be able to make it, but we can go. He’s in one of his zones.” Zones? Do I still get into zones? She stated it as though I’ve done this before, but she’s only known me for 10 years. I’m an adult now – I handle issues in a mature manner – I don’t get into zones! It was the best compliment that wasn’t meant to be a compliment that I’ve heard in years. Did I still have it? Was I coming out kicking harder than life was kicking me? Was I ignoring all the new-age, hippy material I’d been reading for 20 years? Was I 16 again?
No, I was still the mid-40s guy (and still believe much of that hippy material). However, I came out fighting with an arrogance that I hadn’t felt since college. I knew I was going to work through this. I knew that I’d be better for it. I was almost happy it happened. I didn’t worry about strategy or protecting my self-esteem from failure or any of that stuff. I just moved forward with intensity and an imbalanced desire to succeed. Was it unhealthy? Maybe, but it was also awesome.
The result? I’m looking at 2016 with a backlog that is 39% higher than last December and 81% higher than December, 2013. However, the most powerful outcome of this moment in February is the rekindling of that arrogant kid again, and knowing that I can call on him when needed.
Happy 2016 everyone. Embrace and enjoy it.
