“Activity Rules Success”; to this day, I own this statement as a personal truism. It defines a rule for action that tilts the balance in the favor of those who take the extra steps to make things happen.
“Activity Rules Success”; my first day in the world of business I found these words inscribed on a ruler in the drawer of a bullpen desk. The contents of the desk contained the ruler, a paperclip and a dull #2 pencil. The remnants were the parting gifts left to me from someone who had just been terminated. I guess they didn’t measure up to the instruction engraved in the ruler. The emptiness of the desk echoed with the solemn warning of the ruler. “Activity Rules Success.” Scared the hell out of me — and, in some strange way, challenged the heck out of me. I didn’t want to be an echo. The rulers, I thought, were the company’s version of mass motivation. I thought about the cost of those rulers — the company may have been better served paying for motivational seminars.
But, that was then and this is now. I follow the direction inscribed on the ruler. I still do to this day. You can’t connect with everyone — you have to push the envelope of activity to open the results of reward. (Think bonus checks.) You either open the envelope and find coal, or receive a gift from living the mantra on the ruler. (This is a metaphor — you receive the gift you earn.)
I find the following to be a truism, “When we don’t know it can’t be done, we often just do it”. When we are not aware of the consequences of failure or the difficulty involved in the endeavor, we often move forward intrepidly and generate a favorable result. Ignorance is bliss — sometimes — this is one of those times!
In life, it is those who take the bold and decisive action that change the landscape. By altering the dynamic of the environment, they change their station in life. We can reference talent, skill and will, but the actualized fact of the matter is, many achieve because others don’t dare to attempt.
No one can hand you an opportunity; at least not in the traditional sense of earned opportunity through work. Sure, opportunity can be transferred through entitlement, but that is generally a function of birth right or winning the lottery. Opportunity is the offspring of work and recognized talent. It owes some of its lineage to choice and chance — timing and situation often dictate destiny. Seek to find, create and contribute an environment which feeds your mind and nourishes your spirit.
Know you must sow the seeds of opportunity in the fertile, raw material of untilled environment. There is more than one path — make your own.
We can reference talent, skill and will, but the actualized fact of the matter is, many achieve because others don’t dare to attempt.
True engagement;
- Emanates from opening the self to another in a straight-forward, unguarded manner. While this form of engagement is accompanied by the risk of vulnerability, it offers us the opportunity for reward that may eclipse the risk.
Personal obligation;
- Carries a metaphorical sword or shield. We must fight for beliefs and our personal rights. We must exhibit and maintain a respect for others. We must remain vigilant as we safe-guard our own self-respect. We must, we must!
Your competitor thinks;
- They can do good business sitting on their ass, pushing buttons behind a closed door, and directing where the chairs on the Titanic should be placed instead of meeting with a customer to chart a different course. Meeting with people is the way of influence — it is a dynamic that can alter the course of events by connection, commonality and direction.
See, seize and create your own opportunity. The window of opportunity is always closing — Activity will rule your success — Always move Forward! Maintain the spirit of life by safe-guarding your self-respect and know that true engagement comes from the heart of vulnerability.
Get off your back-side, press flesh, and let others feel the pulse of your narrative through the power of your authentic presence.
