Monday Morning Match is a quick post – maybe a quote, inspirational story or idea – intended to spark some motivation inside each of you so your week gets off to a fantastic start on Monday morning.
“It’s almost that time of the year.”
It’s a phrase often uttered but it could be stated for numerous reasons. Girl Scout cookies? Are taxes due? The Academy Awards? Back to School? “(Insert sport here) season” is ready to start? Or, “The (insert sports) playoffs” are here?
For me as a big sports fan, this is an incredible time of the year. The FedEx Cup playoffs have started on the PGA Tour and will be followed by The Ryder Cup, Major League Baseball is nearing the stretch run into their playoffs, football season (college and pro) is just getting started, tennis begins it’ 4th and final Grand Slam event (The US Open) today and it won’t be long until basketball and hockey start getting ready to play.
The energy is kicked up a notch and there is a palpable buzz in the air. New seasons bring hope and possibility that this might be “the year” for fan bases all around the country while the promise of the playoffs starts to make the possibilities of “winning it all” a little more believable.
Can teams and players avoid an injury or mental letdown at the wrong time? Can they come through in the clutch when the pressure is on? Will the lucky bounces break their way or will their hard work and practice finally pay off?
“It’s almost that time of the year.”
As the calendar turns to September and the end of the year becomes a visible blip on the horizon, it’s time for all salespeople, managers, leaders, and business partners to start making plans to finish strong. Dust off that business plan you developed late last year and see if you’re still on course for success or if you need to make some last-minute tweaks? What do you have in your “to do”, “doing,” and “done” piles? Do you trust the systems you have in place at this point in the year to claim victory when the final whistle sounds?
How do you spell SUCCESS at this “time of year”?
Trust the system.
Execute the little things with focus and determination. They add up to big, important things.
Approach each day with a fresh set of eyes and ears, always looking for new opportunities.
Make each day a “great day.” Choose your attitude and bring positive energy to everyone around you.
Why do you do what you do? Keep a good vision of what will happen when you achieve success.
#OnPurpose. There is nothing accidental about success. Have a clear focus every day. Make things happen, don’t just let things happen.
Respect the process. Dot your i’s. Cross your t’s. There are no shortcuts on the way to the winner’s circle
Keep hustling until the end of the game. Run, don’t walk, to the finish line.
It doesn’t matter whether you’re playing alone (and no one is really, truly alone in this world) or with a bunch of other people. No matter what type of “game” you might be playing or season you’re looking to start or finish, good T-E-A-M-W-O-R-K gives you a much better chance at having the kind of finish you envisioned.
Photo courtesy of Riley McCullough
Photo courtesy of Marcus Wright