ANCIENT& not so ancient WISDOM
offering a weekly positive perspective

December 16, 2004

Ready for today, even if it arrives tomorrow.

- Jeffrey Hansler (1957 - )

This quote is about preparation, acknowledgement, decision-making, and perseverance. Although, we can’t control the circumstances that we are handed, we can do the work to be ready for what we desire and what we wish to accomplish. 

For those that want the short version... 

1.     Prepare yourself for what you desire. Be ready for it even though it may arrive later than you planned

2.     Acknowledge the challenges you have faced and how you have persevered beyond those challenges to become stronger

3.     Be aware of your decisions and how they will affect your future

4.     Make a commitment to what you desire in the most positive way – a commitment that will endure any roadblocks that are placed in your path 

Many of my speaking engagements for last year and for the coming year are for groups preparing for dramatic leaps of excellence in sales, negotiation, customer service, and leadership: leaps far beyond projections and outside expectations. There is resurgence in dedication to excellence for its own sake versus a chore in response to outside pressures. 

They are preparing to be ready today, even if the opportunities they expect are delayed in arriving. 

Waiting is a difficult position. It can be tiring, boring, and frustrating. Yet it is what is done during the waiting and how difficulties are handled during the waiting period that becomes the determining factors for eventual success. 

You may have heard about the large waves in Hawaii these last few days. The Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational was held December 15 at Waimea Bay. The contest is only run when the waves exceed 20 ft. Great preparation is required to be in shape and have the ability to hold your breath for an extended period during a hold down after a wipe out. Without preparation, the opportunity to excel is lost and there may be a long delay before the next opportunity presents itself. 

We’ve had our own little swell here in Southern California these last few days and with the off shore wind; the surf has been pretty good. Waves are big enough to keep some surfers out of the water and at a water temperature of 59 degrees it requires at least a minimum level of commitment to the idea of getting wet. And although, the waves here haven’t been anything close to 20 feet, if you’re not prepared for them, they will provide you with an unpleasant experience. As for being ready, the surf doesn’t wait so when it’s good, it’s time to go. 

This morning, December 17, the swell is in transition. The old swell is dying out and the new one is yet to arrive. In this morning’s surf session, after a few good rides, the swell just died out. So the waiting began. During that time, the current and offshore wind continued to push surfers out of the choice spots and beyond the surf line. There was a great deal of paddling just to retain position in anticipation for the coming waves. 

The last thing you want to do as a surfer is paddle in and so you wait and hope that a wave or two will come along. I don’t have all day to wait, so after waiting unsuccessfully and paddling part of the way in, I managed to catch a small wave to ride to shore. It wasn’t the picture I had in mind when I paddled out this morning. 

It doesn’t matter that the swell wasn’t there; it only matters to be prepared for it when it is there. Making the best of every opportunity is part of preparing for excellence. 

As for acknowledgement and decision-making, it is important to realize that any commitment can be sidetracked by difficulties in other areas. Surfing is my mental sanctuary. There is something revitalizing about surfing for me and when I lose sight of the healing I receive from surfing, I get a double whammy. 

As I was surfing and mentally preparing for the New Year, I took time to acknowledge what has influenced me during the last few years. There have been some events and challenges that have greatly affected me. By acknowledging them for the challenges they were at the time, I am able to better prepare for the future and what it may bring. 

Some of the challenges include the events that occurred on 9-11, which have affected so many people, many in more difficult ways than myself; the hurt and isolation of a betrayal by an associate who then went to work for a competitor; the death of my father, who died of an aneurysm earlier this year (He and my mother were vacationing and visiting relatives in Europe. I received the call from my mother right before delivering a keynote program for a client); a bout with skin cancer (I’m sort of attached to my nose as you might guess and am very grateful I get to keep it); and a broken neck (a hairline fracture on an upper vertebrae from an after the play kick delivered while I was getting up from a rugby tackle). So these events are to be acknowledged for being part of my past, and it is up to me to decide what to focus on and what to do with what I have learned. 

As for the great things that are going on, I still love travel and find ways to make the most out of current travel circumstances as possible. I risked further in establishing trusting relationships and friends, clients, and new associates have shown enormous support, commitment, and faith. My mother, sister and I have worked on establishing our relationships without my father through dialogue and tears and become even closer if that is possible. 

I’ve sought intensive coaching and guidance to hone my craft and have explored new territory with stand-up comedy as part of that journey. It’s been great that Sell Little Red Hen! Sell! has sold over 50,000 copies and is now in eight different languages. And as for the rest, I think the quote from February 4th’s Ancient Wisdom pretty much sums it up:

"Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a well preserved body, but rather the intention is to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming  "WOW--What a Ride!" – Albert ‘Skip’ Rizzo

Future plans include two new books, which will be released early next year, new levels of customization for clients as part of their program development, and an expansion of services to meet client requests in consulting and coaching projects.  As a speaker, we are asked to share ourselves and our perspectives as a way to connect with audiences and to provide a unique and valuable experience to contribute to their enjoyment and learning. I cannot describe to you the depth of the responsibility I feel in striving to go far beyond my current comfort zone to deliver this at every opportunity.

In the meantime, I’m ready for today, even if it may not arrive until tomorrow. It’s made me a better person and given me strengths to serve my clients to a new level of achievement.

Being ready is not just a commitment to you. It’s a commitment to the ones you are responsible to and the ones that depend on you. Enjoy being ready in your own journeys and if you get a moment, drop me a line about your story.

Sincerely,