WHAT WILL YOU DO WHILE YOU WAIT?
Wherever it is you’re working today, especially if you're a competitor, it’s possible - likely, even - that you’re waiting for something. You may be waiting for a bigger role or a more important responsibility. You may be waiting for the person in charge to notice your contribution and give you the recognition you deserve. You may be waiting for your chance to shine.
The truth is, some of the most rewarding experiences and important opportunities in life only come for those with the patience and persistence to wait. But as you may know from experience, waiting can be tough, especially in a world that's conditioned us to expect that what we want should come quickly, easily, and conveniently. So the big question for those pursuing those rewarding experiences and important opportunities isn’t, “will you have to wait?” The answer, unfortunately, is probably yes. The important question is, what will you do while you wait?
Like most challenges in life, you’ll have a choice to make in this difficult situation. You can of course choose to make the quick, easy, convenient choice. That’s usually what losers do. When you have to wait, the quickest, easiest, and most convenient thing to do is turn negative. Losers focus their attention on the unfairness of the situation. They blame and complain. They get jealous and resentful of those who have what it is they want, and quietly (or sometimes, not so quietly) hope those ahead of them fail. Their effort and their attitude diminish as that negative voice in their head convinces them that they are the victim, and that the best decision they could make is to bail in this moment of adversity.
When you have to wait to get something you want, it’s a lot harder to do what champions do. While the loser has allowed themselves to turn bitter, the champion is committed to keep getting better. They choose to keep giving their best, to keep learning and improving, and to keep trusting that their opportunity will come. They see that this is the best formula for seizing it when it does come. They continue to support those around them - even those who have what it is they’re waiting to get - because that’s what great teammates do. They choose a winning effort and a winning attitude even in the midst of their struggle. They continue to validate their identity as a champion.
While the loser has allowed themselves to turn bitter, the champion is committed to keep getting better.
It’s certainly not that champions don’t have or don’t hear that negative voice in their head, tempting them to pout, to complain, or to quit. We all have that voice, and when we find ourselves waiting to get something we want, that voice can be relentless and convincing. But in moments of adversity like this, champions have developed the unique ability to talk to themselves instead of listening to themselves, and to managing that voice so they can make the best decision about how to respond, not just the easy one.
I don’t know exactly what it is that you may be waiting to get today, but if you’re a competitor pursuing something big and important in life, I bet there is something. Maybe today that negative voice in your head is working to justify that you deserve better, and that stepping out of this fight is the way to go. There's no disputing, that is certainly the quickest, easiest, and most convenient option. But I want you to clarify for yourself today the voice of your inner champion. What is that voice encouraging you to do? I bet it’s telling you to stay in the fight and keep getting better. To be a great teammate, even to those who have what it is you’re waiting to get. To choose a winning effort and a winning attitude today, even in the midst of the struggle. And to continue to validate your identity as a champion.