MOVE: January 3, 2014

Get (your mind) Ready.....Get (your plan) set....GO!

One of the very best parts about the first few days of the New Year is the feeling of hopefulness that seems to go along with the calendar refresh.  At its core, it comes down to a simple idea: 2013 is over and 2014 is here; but as simple as it might seem, the "reset" is a bit more subtle than that.  I like to use the crowd corralled in Times Square (and similar places around the globe) as the starting-line of a big race, something similar to the look of the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge during the NYC Marathon, where thousands line-up with a goal but no guarantees of success.

If history (and social science) is any guide, the way the "masses" order themselves in this line can tell us a lot about them....and if they'll succeed. Generally speaking, there are six groups, each with a very unique role in the story...and a unique place in "the race".

·         At the very front of the pack, standing right at the starting line you will find the favorites, or in racing lingo the "elites", who are well trained and given a pass to the front because they have a proven record of success and a legitimate shot at winning....they have many assets to pull from but they always must beware of over-confidence.

·         Next after the elites are (group 2) "the contenders" who, because they haven't yet proven worthy of "a pass to the front", got up very early to make sure they could line up right behind the elites. They are well trained and ready to test themselves against "the best" - they want to make a name for themselves and have a well-rehearsed race plan for the year.....they know that if they can endure the inevitable setbacks, things could click and they can surge to the front.....their main asset is desire, but they have to be very careful about pacing.  

·         The next group is one of the largest groups....the "dedicated racers". These folks know a bunch about the race, many have raced it several times and despite the fact that they don't expect to win (overall), they take the race seriously and want to make progress....they want to do better than they did last year.....they want to be at their best.  They've had "good years" worthy of celebration, and those that were not as good, but they don't dwell on it, they keep racing.  Their asset is experience which is a powerful one, but theirs is a risk of not adapting their plan when it makes the most sense to do so....sometimes racers get stuck "doing the same thing expecting a different result".

·         Next (group four) are the "diesels"....one of the groups that inspires me tremendously.  They are out there on pure guts.  They are not really "racers" per se, they don't see themselves that way; rather they are there with a purpose....to prove something to themselves (and perhaps others): that they will finish what they started, that they will just keep going....even when the going gets tough.  Clearly, their asset is "the will to endure".....however they risk working harder when they could be working smarter.  A diesel with a plan could become a contender very quickly....but sometimes they're so busy using their superior endurance that they don't see the potential of becoming a "turbo diesel".  

·         Then there's group five - "the crowd" - who at the sound of the start, move to the sidelines. No, they didn't show up to race....but they did show up, so they are critically important.  Some are there to cheer and build up the confidence of the racers around them, some (slightly more sinister) find it more comfortable to laugh and point when those in the race hit the wall of fatigue.....but that doesn't make them bad....true, they weren't ready to toe the line, but their asset is "power over inertia"....they still showed up.  They may (or may not) realize that if they keep showing up they might surprise even themselves one day when they are standing among the diesels ready to race....it's a fine line though and they risk pessimism, which is dangerous.

·         This leads us to our last group (# 6), who in my opinion, is in a tough spot.....they didn't show-up and they don't really care....everything seems like too much effort....they'll be satisfied to let the "2014 race" pass them by....maybe they'll catch a clip on the news from their chair as they drone-on, with no real goal or direction.  Of course, the situation is never as bad as it seems, and so the asset of the "6" is potential, they have plenty.....but at the time, their greatest fight is just getting started...in essence "showing up".   

So how do you know which group you really belong to? Sometimes it's not as obvious as it seems.  Once you know which group you're in with, what's the best plan to be successful?  After all racing like a contender if you're a diesel will not work out well without proper training.  The good news is - although it's not always easy......it doesn't have to be complex.

The 2014 race is on, those who put safety and health to work will win…..we're here to help when you're ready.

Have a great week,

Mike E.