Every morning I shave my face.
Not because I have to for work.
Not because it looks good.
Not because I have OCD.
I shave my face every morning because it’s one less decision to make then so I can make one more decision later.
Decisions on things that matter. That gets results.
Not whether or not to shave.
What can you decide not to decide in the morning?
Here’s a recipe for winning the right way.
Congratulations to the 2015 Stanley Cup champion Blackhawks on their third in six years.
When you show up every day, what do you expect?
Figure it out.
Otherwise, the opposite of each is what you can expect.
Don’t ask for what you want.
Using “can I?” doesn’t help anyone.
Instead, reverse it.
Offer your services.
I can.
Tom Brady, when questioned by Bob Costas in an interview before the Super Bowl about his knowledge of deflated balls had three choices.
Choice one would have been best, obviously.
Choice three, you’re not a liar. But is it better than entering your actions boldly (choice two)?
Seems that honesty, forthrightness, and issue mitigation is the right move if you’re caught red-handed. That, and ultimately 100% ownership of your mistake.
Do what you do because it makes you happy.
This, of course, makes other people happy and, eventually, life-long fans, customers and friends.
In other words, work inside-out.
Attempting the opposite is a recipe for disaster.
You can have everything you want.
But.
Help someone get what they want.
Not just one thing. Everything.
And then, my friend, you’ll get everything YOU want.
What’s the goal?
All those milestones should be enough to qualify or pass or make the playoffs.
But if you aim for those numbers, you’re setting yourself up for failure.
You gotta aim higher.
My Badgers lost last night. It was in the National Championship game.
It was a bummer. So many people said “sorry” to me.
It hurt more than any other moment as a fan. Crushing.
But this is far from a tragedy. It’s almost entirely the opposite.
Why?
The NCAA Tournament is not the Super Bowl. Or the Stanley Cup. Or even the World Series.
The NCAA Tourney is different.
Getting there is a win. Advancing to the Sweet 16 is a big win. Being part of the Final Four is simply massive.
And in the NCAA Tourney, the kids aren’t paid. Winning is the only thing they’re playing for.
Glory.
This entire season, my Badgers were glorious.
They were Big Ten champs. They were a #1 seed in the NCAA Tourney. And they did the impossible: They beat the previously unbeaten Kentucky; in a Final Four game, no less.
And throughout the whole ride, they were themselves. The harder they worked, the more fun they had.
We were all a part of it.
Sure, they didn’t win the final game.
But the season for them and all of Badger Nation victorious. It was, in the words of Sam Dekker, “All love.”
Stuck in the fog? Chasing the uncatchable? Trying to live someone else’s dream?
On a path on which you don’t know how you got yourself?
Ask yourself this one question:
“As an outsider, what advice would I give to myself?”
Suddenly, the path will become clear.
Follow it.