A lot of my time has been spent perusing the Internet and reading what others have said that is inspirational, educational – something that means something to me and what I am trying to do in life. While on Twitter, I came across Billy Cox, who I have found to be very inspirational. He is a compelling motivational leader that finds great enjoyment in his personal accomplishments as well as his professional achievements. One of his motivational articles is What It Means to Get in The Game and I have attached it below for you to read.
Over the years many individuals have asked me what it really means to get in the game. For me, the answer is pretty simple.
To Get in the Game means taking responsibility for your future. It means getting clear about what you want, developing a plan for your most important goals, and taking massive action each and every day. It also means consistently raising your bar and raising your standards. It means controlling your attitude, facing your fears and staying relentlessly focused on your goals and dreams.
When you’re In The Game it means you’re the kind of person who makes every second count. You understand that the game of life has no time-outs and no overtimes. You only get one chance to play this game.
You may be wondering “Why should I want to get in the game?” Think about it…Why should you want to be in the game?
Well, let me ask you this. Have you ever seen anyone make a shot from the bench or catch a touchdown from the sidelines? Of course not…it can’t happen. Just as a superstar athlete can’t make a shot fro the bench, you can’t be a top producer or a successful business owner by sitting at home and waiting for someone to call and buy your products or services. In order to have any chance at winning, you gotta get off the bench and into the game.
So, the question you gotta ask yourself is…at what level do I want to play? Do I want to wait on the sidelines of life or do I want to win?
To win the game you must first unlock the door to your unlimited potential. This starts by deciding what you really want and then making a clear conscious decision that you’re going to make it happen, no matter what, that’s it, period. Too many people are waiting on the sidelines of life, they are walking on the edge of the ledge. They are not committed, therefore anything that comes along can knock them off track. Sometimes you gotta take a giant leap and leave yourself no outs.
Getting in the Game starts with making a decision. But decisions without action are only good intentions. So, any decision must be backed up by massive action.
Too many people say “Someday when everything is perfect, then I’m going to really, really, really get in the game.” They are waiting for the next degree, until the kids get out of school, or the new marketing plan gets into place.
They have no purpose and therefore they spend most of their time focusing on the little things that don’t mean anything to their long-term success. They come up with excuses and rationalizations to justify their lack of achievement. However, procrastination and rationalization are the biggest killers of success…and the road called “someday” always leads to a town called “nowhere.”
The question I have for you today is…Are you at a turning point in your life? Are you prepared to take responsibility for your future? If so, I challenge you now to make a clear unequivocal decision that you’re going to do whatever it takes to get off the sidelines of life and into the game.
So, the bottom line is, there is no better time than the present to Get in the Game. If you are ready to get started I recommend the following:
Step 1) Get clear about what you really want. Clarity is power. Leaders have it and followers are looking for it. Most people don’t have a clear target of what they are shooting for. Therefore, they never wind up achieving anything of real significance.
You get clear about what you want by making a list of everything you want to achieve personally and professionally in the next 5-10 years. Many people overcomplicate this part, but it is really pretty simple. There is no right or wrong way to do it. They key is to start writing.
So get out a pen and paper and take 5 to 10 minutes to write down everything you an imagine that you would like to be, do, or have. Let your imagination run wild and pretend that anything is possible.
Step 2) Discover your purpose and ignite your passion. Most people wander around aimless and hopeless feeling sorry for themselves and wondering why nothing seems to go their way. They have no purpose and therefore they have no passion.
Purpose and passion don’t just appear, you have to seek them out. You find your purpose by writing down “why” you want to accomplish your goals. Knowing the reasons “why” you are working is a tremendous motivator. This will give you the passion to make your dreams a reality.
Take time now to write down “why” you want to achieve each of the goals you wrote on Step 1.
Step 3) Get a plan of action. You do this by listing some simple steps you can take today. Taking small baby steps will get you moving in the right direction. This will give you momentum which will give you the confidence to take more action.
Step 4) Take massive action. The key to any plan is to take action. Procrastination is the major source of stress and dissatisfaction. It will steal your dreams and leave you wounded on the sidelines. Successful people are willing to take massive action each and every day until their goal is attained.
Understand up front that you can’t win every game. We all have those times when we get sidetracked and lose our momentum. This is why I recommend reviewing your goals regularly. This will keep you clearly focused and on target.
As you review your goals, always make slight adjustments where necessary. If you were shooting a baske3tball and kept missing you wouldn’t quit trying, you would simply adjust your shot and keep shooting until you got it right.
Remember that winning takes purpose, passion, perserverence, and practice. So, be passionate about what you do, practice your game a little each and every day, keeping swinging and eventually youwill achieve the results you desire.
“You can’t live on yesterdays standards and expect to be a winner today.” ~ Billy Cox
Billy Cox is a Dallas based business leader, trainer and success coach. He is the author of the highly successful book You Gotta Get in The Game and the very popular Dream Book. He can be reached at: info@yougottagetinthegame.com or by phone at 1-800-722-4685.
