Let’s focus on what really matters
At the dawn of my sales career, a co-worker gave me a cassette: Zig Ziglar’s “Secrets of Closing the Sale.” Reluctantly plugging it into the tape machine, I expected to eject it (and the ideas) immediately after the slack on the tape was absorbed. Instead, I became a fan of the oldtime motivator from Yazoo City who postulated that health, wealth, and happiness are the natural results of treating others well and that attitude is essential in doing so.
Years have passed, and unfortunately so has Mr. Ziglar, but I still remember vividly a scenario he used to illustrate how fluid is our perception. (I’ve altered the concept, but felt it important to give credit to its origin.)
Picture rising on your “average” day; nothing exhilarating or dreadful is on the agenda. As you rub the sleep from your eyes and swing your bare feet from the softness of the bed to the hardness of the floor, using a oneto-ten scale, think about how you’d rate your attitude.
Sure, some days barely merit a “one;” others are heavenly, generating a “ten.” But — on the runof-the-mill everyday — what ranking would you choose? (FYI, based on a long-term survey I conduct, the majority of respondents end up at 7.9.)
Attitude locked in place, you interact in usual fashion with friends, families and vendors. As the day fades into history, you retire, expecting to rise again tomorrow and repeat the process.
Not meaning to cast our existence as mundane, but, it is most of what life is in presentday America.
So, let’s shake it up. Again, imagine the ordinary morning. However, this dawn you are jolted into consciousness by a ringing telephone. Glancing at the clock and noting the early hour, your first thoughts are concern, “Who is calling this early? What’s wrong?”
Jerking the receiver to your ear, you recognize the voice of a dear loved one who lives in another time zone. She says, “I know it’s early, but I’m getting ready for work and I was thinking about how much I miss you and how much you mean to me and how I’m so looking forward to seeing you over the holidays. I can’t wait. I only have a second but wanted to share that. You are my world. I so love you. Gotta go…”
With the severing of the connection, life resumes normalcy.
I’ll wager dollars to doughnuts that if you rated your attitude after starting the day like that, it would surely bump a point or two. More importantly, it would be contagious, you would treat your fellow travelers on the path of life so much better.
You’d walk lighter, listen closer and smile broader. Who knows, you might even sing while you stroll? After all, life is glorious! It deserves to be celebrated.
This begs the question, “Why would you act so differently?” After all, nothing is really altered. The same chores and tasks remain lined out in front of you. It remains a common, ordinary day.
The answer: your perception changed. On this rare magnificent morning, that which “really matters” is forefront of your thoughts. Sure, there are bills to pay and responsibilities to manage, but it just plain doesn’t matter. After all, you know you are blanketed in the knowledge that love is wherever you are. You are neither isolated nor alone, rather always embraced in warmth, even if you don’t realize it.
In our work about, quarantined, crazy-busy, run-run-run, gotta-getthere, gee-ain’t-life-adrag mentality, we can forget the wonder of who we are.
I felt it important to remind us. I’d even pick up the phone but I don’t have your number ( but you have mine).
About the author: Scott “Q” Marcus is a professional speaker and founder of www. Thistimeimeanit.com, where he can be contacted for coaching, consulting, and presentations. You can also join his motivational Facebook group at www.facebook.com/groups/ intentions.affirmations.manifestations.