I just returned from three days in New York, where I finished the accreditation process with Alan Weiss for his Master Mentor program. It was my first trip to the Big Apple so I made sure to spend time seeing the sights.
I really enjoyed just watching the ice skaters at Rockefeller Center. There are constantly a large group of skaters ranging from the very good to the teetering on the brink. At one point, I two completely diametric levels of expertise. One young man looked like he could have been in the Olympics. He flawlessly jumped, skated, and twirled all over the rink to the amazement of all. Not far off, a gentleman had a death grip on the side railings with a lady clutching his elbow to help him support. He wore a large grin as a he worked at trying to stay balanced on his skates.
This reminds me of each one of us in our business careers. There are times when we are the Olympic skater and there are times when we are on the brink of falling on our duffs (and often do); and everything in between. The critical issue is to be like the man learning to skate. Accepting help, being humble, being willing to keep trying, and keeping focused on improving. Just because someone is more advanced than you now doesn’t mean you are a failure. It means you have something to strive for. In fact, seeking out mentors is part of that process. Finding that Olympic skater and learning from them is worth it’s weight in gold.
Where are you in your career? Where do you want to go?
Time to get off the rail and be willing to take a few spills in the name of progress.
© 2010 Dan Weedin. All Rights Reserved
