Danny Green missed a last second game-winning shot on Friday where in game five, the Lakers could have won the NBA finals.
It happens.
The pressure and need to perform when you have been running endlessly around a basketball court doesn’t let up until the final seconds have counted down on the clock.
Sound familiar?
It is Friday night at 7pm, and you thought you had switched off from work and you get “that text” that sends you over the edge.
You’ve been up all night with your sick dog/kid/aging relative and the next morning you have the unexpected resignation / technical crisis / competitor leapfrogging your marketing strategy.
The pressure is on, the cameras are watching, and the social media hounds are going to be tearing you apart in the recap / analysis tomorrow.
So what exactly do you do to improve the probability that you will be successful when you are exhausted?
First, only talk to people who can really help you. Yes that means cancelling meetings, upsetting people, missing commitments, and having to ignore your 12,503 emails in your inbox. Focus on what matters to get you past your point of exhaustion.
Second, make exhaustion the exception, not the rule. You cannot run a marathon with a series of 200 meter sprints just as you cannot continue to work to exhaustion every month of the year. Outsource your non-core activities at work and in your personal life. Focus only on activities that you are uniquely qualified to do. Assess if you have the capability and capacity on your leadership team to achieve your goals. Pace yourself and take time off after your product ships or your deadline passes.
Third, honestly assess if you are getting the sleep, nutrition and exercise you need.It is easy to get into the downward spiral of unhealthiness. COD-19 giving you a change in your muscle:body fat ratio is real! - catch it now and change your habits before the holiday season piles on the damage that could easily be corrected right now.
Finally. find someone who will hold you accountable, even in the last 10 seconds.Best intentions can get lost if you are relying on your own will power. Set and share your goals with others and ask them to hold you to them. Build an enviable inner circle of advisers who you can call on for advice. Invest in yourself by hiring an advisor who will accelerate your goals before you get to exhaustion.
What countdown are you currently working against? How can you maintain your performance until the final bell sounds? Call me today if you want to explore how we may be able to partner.
…hitting the wall of exhaustion isn’t irretrievable. Danny Green might have lost the game on Friday, but the Lakers went on to win the NBA finals two days later on Sunday, that is the power of a strong team behind you.
And of course: LeBron James. Say no more.
Dedicated to growing your business,
Val
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