Monday Morning Match is a quick post – maybe a quote, inspirational story or idea – intended to spark some motivation inside each of you so your week gets off to a fantastic start on Monday morning.
Trotting on my Road Trip
I was visiting South Carolina this past weekend. The University of Florida (my alma mater) was playing The University of South Carolina (where my daughter Riley is a Freshman) in football. It’s always fun to watch the Gators play in person, even in seasons like this when we aren’t very good. It’s a bonus when I can spend the weekend with my daughter.
In addition to the football game, my daughter’s sorority, Delta Zeta, was holding a 5K race in support of Heart for Hearing, their national charity. Riley asked me to support the cause and run in the Turtle Trot. It was the first 5K I’ve participated in since probably…2013? Needless to say, the thought of running 3.1 miles after a weekend of engaging in the typical college football fan activities (beer, food, sitting and watching football, etc.) was a bit frightening. The last thing I wanted to do was embarrass Riley by collapsing in pain or exhaustion one mile into the run.
I may be fifty years old and I may be closer to “fat” than “fit” but I was pretty proud of myself when I finished the race. Even though it wasn’t at a record pace, I ran the entire way and finished ahead of many of the younger participants. As I was running, I was trying to focus on anything other than my breathing and aching knees, so I was writing this blog post in my mind as I “trotted” along the trail that bordered the Congaree River.
A Different Kind of 5K
Which of these “special K’s” will you add into your “Trot to 2018”?
Kick (it in gear) – Just like a 5K doesn’t seem long…until you start running, the end of the year is still 7 weeks away but it will be here before we know it. When you can see the finish line, that’s not the time to slow down, it’s the time to dig deep and pull out all your extra reserves and make sure you finish strong.
Karma – Do you believe that your future is already decided? Maybe it is, maybe it isn’t, but everything you can do to create “good karma” is suggested. Say “please” and “thank you.” Write hand-written notes. Hold open houses. Call people back. Leave a little bigger tip than usual. Let the driver in a hurry merge into your lane. Buy the coffee for the person behind you in the drive-thru. Let your spouse control the remote. What little act or decision will you make this week that could come back to you in a big way?
Knowledge is Power- Never stop learning. Each day, try to feed your brain w something that makes you smarter and more valuable to someone in the future. What classes, webinars, or training will you participate in between now and the new year? Time to grab some new books, download some documentaries or subscribe to some new podcasts to consume instead of watching those Hallmark holiday movies.
Kindness – Practice this more every day to everyone you encounter. It doesn’t cost anything extra to be nice to people and even if it doesn’t turn into immediate business, you’ll feel better about your approach to your career and the members of your community. Funny thing is, even though there’s rarely any financial investment in being kind, the ROI can be immeasurable.
Keep focused on the business development activities every day that will lead to opportunities to work with new customers and clients. Remember this business isn’t about houses, it’s about the people who live in the houses. Keep building relationships, solving problems and having fun.
And keep running. This year’s race is almost over. Let’s finish strong.