Success is like a bowling lane…

During the holiday, I had the wonderful task of being the entertainment coordinator for my children. Yes, I had the weekend off and just wanted to rest. However, they had the weekend off and want to do anything but rest, funny how that happens. I called a friend and told him to bring his daughter out to the bowling alley with my kids. There they could be loud and attempt to destroy other things besides my house. Now my paternal side of the family loves to bowl. I like it but never really got “into” it. You know the large bag with 72 balls for every lane in the city with different lane conditions.  However, I can bowl.  As we started I noticed that my ball would not hook like I wanted it to. I studied the lane the ball and noticed that there was a lot of oil at the end of the lane. In other words the lanes were slick. So, I made some adjustments, move over three boards less speed, etc. Then I found the pocket; I hit three strikes in a row. My fan club starts to shout because the electronic turkey started to do its thing on the overhead. It was the highlight of the day for them. I kept bowling and hit 2 more strikes.  I had found my grove. The problem with finding a grove is that it is easily lost. So of course, I found the gutter and left an open frame. I began to think about success and bowling. Not being a successful bowler but how being successful is just like bowling. You have an Idea about what you want to do; you take your shot, and check the results.  If you don’t like them you change things. However, if you do not make adjustments, guess what, you will get the same results. I believe that is called Stupidity, doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result. Solution, you should adjust your setbacks and achievements like a bowler. Look at your results, notice if there has been any changes in the “lane condition” and if there has been, make the adjustments until you find your grove. Once you find your grove the challenge is to stay focused so you can duplicate your efforts.  Then watch the results with the knowledge that you may have to change up a little, but you can still achieve the desired results, Strikes or Successes, and a whole bunch of them.   As for the outing with the kids, oh yea I won. I beat them with no mercy LOL, I bowled a 180 first game and a 130 the second. Ok, so they had the bumpers up, but I still had to adjust to the lanes.  J 

STICKABILITY

Stickability 

What does it take to achieve your goals?  I believe if you ask that question you may be halfway to achieving your goals.  So what is the other half?  “Stickability.”  Yes, I know it is not a real word, but let’s break it down right quick.  “Stickability can be defined as the ability to stick; a tenacity not to be denied when you set out to accomplish goals; or sacrificing short term pleasure,  for long term gratification.  That is simple enough.  However, sticking with your goals is a daily challenge.  You must continually remind yourself of what your goals are and why you set them.  Do not be consumed with what other people think because if you let others define your success, they will define your failures as well.  Back in high school basketball days, I was not the best player on the team. However, I had a goal in mind.  My goal was to go to college on an athletic scholarship.  Now the best player on the team was a “true playa for real.”  He chose to work on a different type of game.  I knew in order to achieve my goal I needed to work harder than everyone else.  The playa’ desired to play college ball, but I had the willpower to make it a reality. I got that college scholarship; the playa got caught up in the “playa” life and did not go to college.  I was not the best player on the team but I had “stickability”         

Remember you must first set your goals, and then possess the tenacity to achieve your goals.   Do this, and you will have “Stickability.”  An old Egyptian proverb says it best “Strong Souls have willpower, weak ones only have desires.”Do you have Stickability? 

Try Harder

A few summers ago, my five-year-old daughter had the training wheels taken off her bike.  My wife and I were going to teach her how to ride her bike.  At first she didn’t want to do it.  She said she wanted to have fun, and because she thought it wouldn’t be fun without the training wheels she pleaded for us to put them back on.  We of course said “Oh, you will have much more fun without the wheels if you just try.”   Well she gave it some effort, and had some success.  The more she tried, the more successful she became.  Each time she tried, she went a little further.  Consequently, she wanted to try even more.  Then…it happened… she fell.  At this point one of two things could have happened.  Either she would lay there not wanting to ride anymore, or shake it off and become more determined to achieve her goal.  Well, being my first born, she got up and tried again and again. 

Finally after an hour or so, she was able to figure out what she needed to do.  She hopped up on the seat and started to ride.  Then we could not get here off the bike.  She felt so good about herself because she tried and tried harder until she met her goal. 

Many times you will be faced with a task that seems nearly impossible or beyond your own ability, but do you know that if you just try harder you can achieve your goal?  No matter how big or small the tasks are, if you dream it you can achieve it-with hard work of course.