The hand you are dealt

Playing at the game of life has its challenges but you should never have to gamble your physical - or mental - health for the sake of going all in.

So how do you go all in at work and not be all consumed to the point of exhaustion and burnout or worst yet the dreaded quiet quitting?

Working - and living - in a start-up (or start-up with legs) culture for most of my career, I have learned several things - most of them from my many trips to Vegas (my least favorite city BTW).

Go all in and play the game, give it your all, AND walk away a winner with your sanity mostly intact.

Every hand's a winner.

Why? Because we get to choose to look at life through the lens of positivity. Our mentality determines our reality. Our thoughts determine our actions and our actions determine our outcomes. So look at your cards, find a way to see the possibility and then play the hand you were dealt.

In your current role and situation, there may be significant challenges. So choose to see the positives including the lessons you are learning, and find a way to enjoy the journey. You will be happier and healthier.

Bet on yourself.

You have everything that you need at your fingertips to win at the game of life. There will be highs, there will be lows, but if you keep moving forward, do the right things and believe in what you can accomplish - you will win every single time because even a failure is just an opportunity to learn and get better the next time.

Advocate for yourself and ask the right questions. What does success look like? How do I get X resources to deliver Y results? And never be afraid to ask for help when you need it.

Work together with those at the table, beat the dealer, and everyone wins.

Teamwork is important. It may mean you won't always win at that moment, but if you work together, you can bend the will of the cards in favor of the table - causing the dealer to bust. The moment you think only of yourself, you put everyone at the mercy of the cards and the dealer. Stop always showing your poker face and be real with the people around you. Choose teamwork and help others win with you along the way.

Cash in your chips when you are ahead.

It's easy to keep chasing the high you get from the win. But how much sweeter is it to stop when you are ahead, put the chips in your pocket and walk away with more than you came with. Even if the "more" is wisdom from a failure, friendship from the team you were in, or watching someone you helped win at their game.

Think about the hand you have been dealt.

Will you see the good in it, choose to believe in yourself, work with those around you, and cash in when you are ahead? If you do then maybe, just maybe, you will not only survive, but thrive in this world.

I'm all in - how about you

Let's Grow BOLD Together

On my way to work, on a very busy street, I approached a traffic light.  As I glanced over to my left, a bird flew down between two cars - while they were still slowing down - to get the food it located there on the ground.  The cars came to a stop and he continued to eat and then flew away just as they began to move. 

I found myself mesmerized by the boldness of this creature.  I honestly could not take my eyes of the scene.  This bold and brazen character spotted what he wanted and went after it despite the dangers the vehicles around him represented.

As I drove away from that light, I wondered to myself - Can I be that bold?  Can I maintain laser-sighted focus on the prize at hand without considering the dangers or obstacles that try to keep me from obtaining my goals in life? Do I make the choice each day to be bold?

And if I were to be completely transparent, I believe the honest answer to those questions is "sometimes".
So what makes the difference between being bold and going for it or shying away and missing the opportunity? I think there are three things we must do in order to make the leap to being bold in everything that we do.

1. Start with a goal - When you start with a goal and you set your mind on accomplishing it, I believe you find that anything is possible. The goal of that bird was to find food.  It was a survival instinct, but it was still a goal and he was not willing to let it get away just because a few moving cars were in the way.
2. Be prepared - My son is well on his way to becoming an eagle scout and their motto is perfect for all of us in life..."Be prepared".  Know what you could be facing and prepare yourself mentally, physically and even spiritually to see you accomplishing that goal.  Clear your mind of the negative thoughts and prepare to get the prize.
3. Know your obstacles - You WILL have obstacles with every goal you set.  Something or someone will always try to stop you from achieving it.  In being prepared, part of that should include knowing what might stand in the way of your success and have a plan to combat those things and be bold to stand up to them or move them out of your way!

So the next time you begin to think "I can never do that" or "that will be too hard", just remember that little bird and think, if he can be that bold, so can I - and really mean it.  Here's to growing bold together!