Are you at the top of your game? More important, have you
taken the time to consider what that means?
We’ve all heard the conventional wisdom about listening to
our “inner voice.” It’s that gut instinct that reminds us of what we already
know, deep down inside.
So what is your inner voice saying to you about being
successful, in business and in life?
Think about when you’ve performed at the highest level—in
other words, when you’ve been at the top of your game.
What was working for you? Who were you working with? What
were the contributing factors to your success?
When we take the time to stop and think about those
occasions, we usually find that there was clarity to our thinking and actions. We
understood the task or assignment, and no doubt felt passionate about what we
were doing.
Contrast that with those times when you weren’t as successful—when you felt like you’d failed or were not at the top of your game.
Chances are you lacked clarity about the project or
assignment. What were the distractions that got in your way?
You may have tried to do too much by yourself, perhaps to
try to prove yourself and your abilities rather than to achieve a desired
result. Or you simply might have had a wrong mindset—been in a low mood, in other words—and felt overwhelmed by challenging
circumstances or a faulty relationship.
That’s understandable, because it happens to us all. We’re
human. We have bad days, we struggle with relationships, and we make mistakes.
The important thing is to not let those things dominate and control our lives.
The late Zig Ziglar was famous for saying, “See you at the
top!”
Can you see yourself there?
Identify those things that have made you successful in the
past, and make them a regular part of your life. It takes honesty, and it takes
discipline. But it will also put you where you want to be—at the top of your
game.
Jim Ondrus pioneered the management concept of Leadership Transitioning™. He is president of JA Ondrus, LLC, a Canton, Ohio executive coaching firm.
