š Giannis on Failure, š The Best Company for Career Growth, and Your Highest Priority
April 2023
Welcome to May! In just 5 days Iāll be competing in the St George Ironman 70.3 triathlon. The training stage is almost complete and Iām feeling confident about the work Iāve put in to get here. Two years ago I had a solid training plan, but in the final weeks leading to the race, I got sick. Then I jammed my toe so hard I couldnāt walk for a week. That race didnāt go as hoped, but Iām coming into this one feeling healthy and strong.Ā
One of the things I love about triathlon is the opportunity for me to practice focusing on what I can control and what I canāt.
What I CAN control. My preparation. My mindset. My emotions. My effort on race day.
What I CANNOT control. The water temp for the swim (looking cold right now). The heat. The wind. Whether I get a flat tire. How fast my younger brother races (Vegas odds say itās a toss up š).Ā
If youāre anything like me, itās easy to get caught up on the things outside of our control, rather than crushing the things in our control. I invite you to look at the obstacles in front of you. Whatās within your power to overcome them?
Books, Articles, etc.
Do Hard Things: Why We Get Resilience Wrong and the Surprising Science of Real Toughness by Steve Magness (Book)
This book explores mythologies around the popular view of toughness and shows how traditional markers of toughness (pushing past pain, putting on a brave face, etc.) can actually hurt both mental and physical performance in the long term. The author argues that true resilience comes from listening to your body and embracing your emotions.Ā
Overall, I found Do Hard Things to be a really insightful read. Here are my two favorite quotes:
āWe tell our children to believe in themselves, without explaining how to develop that belief. Weāve fallen for the Instagram version of confidence, emphasizing the projection of belief, instead of working on the substance underneath. We need a new approach to building confidence, one focused on the inside.ā
āResearch consistently shows that tougher individuals are able to perceive stressful situations as challenges instead of threats. A challenge is something thatās difficult, but manageable. On the other hand, a threat is something weāre just trying to survive, to get through.ā
Giannis Antetokounmpo on Failure (Video)
Moments after the Bucks got knocked out of the NBA playoffs, Giannis (2021 NBA Final champion and two-time MVP) was asked if this season was a failure. Hereās the full video.Ā
"It's not failure. It's steps to success."Ā
"Michael Jordan played 15 years and won 6 championships. The other 9 years were a failure?"
"There's no failure in sports. There's good days, bad days, some days you are able to be successful. Some days you are not. Some days it's your turn. Some days it's not."
(Sidenote: If you havenāt watched Rise, the movie about Giannisā story, youāre missing out.)
Rafa (an Autobiography) by Rafael Nadal (Book)Ā
A client of mine recommended Break Point, a docuseries covering tennisā transition from all-time greats to stars in the making. Several pros highlighted Rafael Nadalās mental toughness and his ability to battle back even when down big. I was inspired to pick up this autobiography and dig in on whatās made Nadal such a special player.
Nadal reads the audio version, which made it really fun. I enjoyed hearing about the mindset he takes and how thatās helped him win 22 major singles titles, tying him with Novak Djokovic for most all time. He also spent a record 912 weeks (almost 18 years!) ranked in the top 10.
I was impressed by how down to earth he seemed. He lives a relatively private life and was raised in a close-knit family that emphasizes character over accomplishments. That support has provided him with comfort and stability during the many ups and downs that come with being a professional athlete. It reminded me of this quote from Gustave Flaubert: āBe regular and orderly in your life, so that you may be violent and original in your work.ā
Despite rarely watching tennis, I really enjoyed diving into Nadalās life and learning the mental and physical practices that have propelled him to greatness.
Observations
Leadership Development Tool: What is Your Top Priority?Ā
When āpriorityā came into the English language in the 1400s, it was singular. What did it mean? The very first thingābefore all other things. By definition, you cannot have more than one priority. And for 500 years, the word meant a singular idea, and then it evolved and now we talk about āprioritiesā all the time.
As a leader, you have countless important things you need to do each week. Your to-do list likely exceeds the time you have to do each task. And then weeks go by and you donāt feel like youāre making the progress you need to.Ā
You canāt do everything, but you can always do the important thing. You must ask yourself every day, What is my top priority today? What is the most important thing I need to do today? Click here for more on how to make this happen.Ā
Hereās the Best Company for Real Career Growth
I recently read an article listing the top 50 companies for career growth. The headline intrigued me, so I clicked. All were impressive companies. The kind your parents would want you to work at. They were large, stable companies. There was even a requirement that none had done layoffs over the last year.Ā
But I guarantee that the best company for your career growth isnāt on that list. Why? Because real career growth doesnāt come from a perfectly carved out role at a big company. Real growth doesnāt come from a stable role. It doesnāt come from a rotational program, or good benefits, or anything like that.Ā
To read the full article, click here.
Gratitudes
Iāve found power in regularly expressing gratitude so Iāll continue the habit. I have a random one this month. Iām grateful for the emails I get from my kidsā school when they check out a library book. At first I thought these emails were silly, but now I really enjoy getting notified that my son checked out Dog Man: Grime and Punishment or my daughter borrowed The Berenstain Bears and the Missing Honey. These emails come while Iām working and I pause for a moment to think about them and what their day is like.
If you've read anything worth sharing I'd love to hear about it. And do let me know if there's anything I can do to help you.Ā Ā
Nathan
Learn about coaching | Read my blogĀ
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