8 Steps to Sure Success: Step Five – Stay Under the Pressure
December 16, 2014
“It’s like a cast of actors; you’re all working together closely under pressure to produce something everyday. And when we put up an issue, it’s like the curtains opening on a new play. I really like that daily sense of surprise.” – David Talbot
The Sochi Winter Olympics recently came to a close. Every two years, I find that special stream of patriotism rise as I cheer for our American athletes watching them compete with the best of the best on the world’s platform.
When I recall the Olympics, specifically the summer games, I often envision the weight lifting competition. There are a multitude of special events, but the “snatch” and the “clean and jerk” require the lifter to pick-up the barbell from the ground and push it over their head, keeping it under control for a specified time determined by the rules. A buzzer then sounds when the time has expired. While the lifter is holding the weight in the air, he is “under the pressure.” To stay “under the pressure” is to be patient, waiting for the judges to sound the buzzer. The judges are watching to see if the lifter maintains control while “under the pressure.” That pressure can expose bad technique, weakness in the body, or loss of self-control.
No one in business, or sports for that matter, disputes the fact that they are always in stiff competition and that competition can get pretty cut-throat! Just ask Olympic skater Nancy Kerrigan about nasty competitors! As you may recall, she was the female skater from the 1994 Winter Olympic Games who had her knee smashed severely by a member of her competitors team. Even more disturbing, they were both on Team USA! Ouch!
But weightlifting is a personal competition. Sure, one is competing against the others, but the event itself is a solo performance; just you and the weight. If your competitor wins, it wasn’t because of their preventing you from winning; it was because you were not as strong, your technique was weak, or you just couldn’t handle the pressure!
Forget about what your competition is lifting! Rather, focus on your event – your business – your team – your opportunity to win with what you do have. Don’t waste your time agonizing over your opponents muscle mass. Learn from their techniques but always remember that while they may win the event, that doesn’t necessarily mean you lost. In business, your competitor may win the contract or earn more wealth, but that doesn’t mean you can’t also win and profit immensely. Even in the Olympics, silver and bronze are still noted as winners on the podium alongside the gold!
In Olympic weightlifting, the competition isn’t allowed to heckle or jeer you. But in business, no such rules exist! Your competition may try to make your path to success miserable for you. However, here’s the lesson that I want you to make note of: Your business success is in your hands, not theirs. They wouldn’t be taunting you if you weren’t a threat to them. Remember, the people that are chewing on your backside are BEHIND you – you’re in the lead.
Just stay focused on the end game and ignore the envious chatter behind you. Use it to kick your motor into overdrive. The philosopher Cicero said, “I criticize by creation, not by finding fault.” When negative forces are present, it’s a positive sign that you’re on the right track! Most successful people I know are grateful for their critics because it’s those critics who confirm that you are doing something big – something right! Ignore them!
If you grow your business, your relationships, your life – the pressure will build. That pressure reveals weaknesses and exposes them to the outside world. Fix the weaknesses, don’t ignore them. Learn from the pressure and change.
Pressure of all kinds will come to you, don’t see it as your enemy. It’s the price of winning. In your journey to success, you will feel defeat, embarrassment, anger, and the strongest of temptations to quit and cease pursuing your vision. You need pressure to prove that you are a winner. Accept it. Embrace it. Learn from it, but stay under it. Be patient. Don’t quit!
Stay tuned for Step Number Six – “Earn it!”
