Getting better at getting better is what Rise With Drew is all about.
Monday through Thursday, we explore ideas from authors, thought leaders, and exemplary organizations. On Friday, I share something about myself or what we at PCI are doing in our quest to earn a spot on Fortune magazine’s 100 Best Companies to Work For.
Two years ago, I participated in philosopher Brian Johnson’s Heroic Coach program. The culmination of the program is a deep dive into what Brian calls the “fundamentals”: sleeping, eating, moving, breathing, focusing, celebrating, and prospering. Today we take a look at prospering.
Brian defines prospering as moving forward with hope. Hope is one of the three big cardinal virtues to boost our well-being, along with zest and gratitude.
The opposite of prospering is despair. To not have hope.
Happy people have projects. If we feel bad, we take action. Our physiology drives our psychology.
We begin with the desired outcome, Brian tells us. We get crystal clear on our goal. “Make the mental image. Make it clear, distinct, perfect; hold it firmly,” Charles Haanel writes in The Master Key System. We take aim at a specific target. A goal that is worthy of us. One that will bring out the best in us. We ask: What’s the #1 thing for me right now? We go all in. Because we are going to crush this goal.
Then, we go to work to close the gap between where we are now and our desired outcome. We enter the arena right now in joyful celebration. We give it all we’ve got. We pursue excellence purposefully. We know the opposite of mediocrity is excellence.
We are right here. Right now. We are right on schedule. We accept ourselves. We accept our imperfections. We accept reality. We have deep trust in our path. Radical acceptance of where we are.
The stoic philosopher Seneca defines Euthymia as “believing in yourself and trusting that you are on the right path, not being in doubt by following the myriad of footpaths of those wandering in every direction.”
After all, it took legendary college basketball coach John Wooden 16 years to win his first national championship. Then, he won 10 of the next 12.
When we win, we celebrate. Immediately and consciously. “That’s like me,” we say.
Then, we ask: What worked? What didn’t work? What will I do differently next time?
We start over. We do it again.
More next week!
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Reflection: What’s the #1 thing for me right now?
Action: Go all in.
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