We live in the Australian Outback at the top of a very long street that culminates in a dead end. After the last house, there’s only vast empty space, that’s it. Even on Google Maps, there’s nothing.
It’s rare to see people wandering down towards our house unless they live on the street, but this weekend a couple flagged us down soon after we pulled out of our driveway. They were lost. Where they were headed was at least a 40-minute walk, but luckily the turn to get them back on track was two minutes away, and sundown a good 60 minutes or more.
As the husband confirmed directions with my husband, the wife called her friend to tell them they were running late.
Once back on our way, what do you think was the first thing I said to my husband?
“She had a phone.”
She had friends to call and maps to use all at her fingertips. Still, there they were, flagging down strangers and hoping for the best.
My brain started to whir. Flagging us down worked, but what were the other ways that they could have successfully gotten to their final destination? Moreover, how did this experience apply to others at work and in life?
Want to Boost Your Success?
Ask yourself the following to take actions and gain insights to go crank your success into high gear.
- What resources do I have available to me, perhaps even at my fingertips, that I’m not using?
- Who can I ask for help?
- What do I need?
- Am I headed in the right direction?
- When have I successfully done something similar?
- Can I google it?
- What’s the fear that’s keeping me stuck?
- If I do nothing, what’s the worst that can happen?
- Am I on my own or just acting like I’m flying solo?
- How do I define success?
The next time you feel lost, before you head too far in the wrong direction, take a moment to assess what needs to happen next and who can help you. If you genuinely want to boost your success, tell your stubborn-self with the big ego to take a hike. One thing I know for sure: People are there to help, it’s up to you to reach out.
Sometimes you need a partner to get where you want to go. If it’s your time to work with a coach, let’s talk.
Aha! # 10 fairly jumped off the page toward me, and I will bet, for many others as well. Over the years (a phrase that you know what that means for me) I have had to define and at times redefine what success is and whether or not that was something I was aiming for or whether it wasd mply a by-product of my work. Yes, we set goals individually and collectively and achieving those was deemed to be success and yet I wanted something much more than that.
I am still figuring out what success looks like, feels like and means for me today.
Thanks, Gary. When I worked for big companies, I had an idea of what success meant to me and it often included big leaps in salary and promotions. Why was it that by the time I was a VP in a Fortune 500 company, I was successful by that bar but not remarkably happy at work? Hummm. When I started my business, the definition changed again and then, with our overseas move, I begain to redefine success in the context of satisfaction. Still working through it and adjusting but for me, it’s a measure that both works and maters.
Alli
Hi Alli,
As soon as I read your post, I reflected back on my big jump years ago to starting my own business. In that light, I love your #7-10! It gets right to the heart of being stuck vs. creating momentum. For #8, I would also ask myself its partner question: What is the best that could happen if I do something!
Assessing risk is important — envisioning success is critical!
Great post.
Kate
Kate,
Those are often two questions I ask in tandem in my coaching. The one sheds light on our fears and the other creates a big vision to calll us forwaard. I went back and forth on including it here and didn’t so I’m very glad that you did!
Alli
First let me state that some of us prefer to ask for directions while others of us prefer to use google maps. When I am really lost I need that human contact to reassure me that I’m on the right track. Having shared that, ha, I love each of your questions especially #8-If I do nothing, what’s the worst that can happen? I think that pretty much sums up inaction. When we don’t choose to find a way out we probably will face redundancy. Just do it and know that some action is better than no action at all.
Thanks Alli and will share today!
Thanks for that reminder. If I’m driving around a city, lost, or even walking, I too often like to ask for directons. Fact is they were darn lucky that they saw us. Dead end street, small town, not often a lot of people out and about. What I appreciated after our interaction, my husband said aloud that no matter how busy we are or how much of a rush we’re in, when someone flags you down to help, help. It’s the right thing to do and we all need it sometimes.
You’re right, some action is better than no action. In this case, they would never make it to their destination without doing something. Hope and luck weren’t enough.
Alli
Love your list, Alli. I also think people’s personalities have a lot to do with how/when/if we look for ways to move out of our current situation. I’m an overachiever, and as such, I’m rely on myself to move forward. I need to be reminded that “I can’t do everything,” and maybe, just maybe “Someone else has a better answer.” I am a work in progress…
Oh, how I can relate. Also, as you know, we’re all works in progress. Some of us just realize it and accept it and work on their growth more than others.
Apprecite you, LaRae!
Alli