THRIVE! Talkin'!

Don't just read the newsletter, live it!
Jump into the THRIVE! forum and get set for success!

Scrub a Dub

I recently took the opportunity to undergo a surgical procedure to address a long-term shoulder injury. As I sat in the pre-op room, I had an IV in my arm, a revealing gown draped over my chest, and a warm blanket covering my legs. I found myself experiencing a condition that's common for people in a similar situation. No, I wasn't worried, scared, nervous, or any of those things.

I was bored.

I looked around the room a few dozen times. I counted ceiling tiles. I checked out the equipment that beeped and whirred around me. I listened to conversations among the support staff. (Come on, you know you do it, too.) I listened to their discussions about work, home, and their personal frustrations along the way.

Just then, I noticed my doctor entering the far side of the next room. He was working on another patient who was scheduled before me. This morning was to be like an assembly line. Shoulders first, then knees. 3-4 operations a day was common for him. He walked over to the sink to "scrub in". Sorry to use the medical lingo, but I've been watching reruns of "ER".

I was pleased to note that he was meticulous in the hand-washing department. This aspect of the preparation is important for obvious reasons. If you're a top-notch surgeon, you can't just finish up a peanut butter and banana sandwich and plop yourself down at the operating table. Junior mints aside, such a sterile environment requires maximum germ defense and hygiene.

While I watched him lather, rinse, repeat, I thought about the act of handwashing. We all do it. (Don't we?) Sometimes we may cut corners or rush through the act, but I think we can all relate. If you've just come in from rebuilding the transmission of a '68 Mustang, you're likely to spend a little more time powering away the grime.

It's important, then, to match the overall effort applied to the importance and improvement required. Now, I'm not suggesting a 30-minute lather job ten times a day. I'm just noting that some of us may be taking this important action for granted. We may have become numb to the overall importance of this everyday activity.

In my experience, I've found that many people glance over some really important activities in exactly the same way. Think of the following "everyday" activities and the effort you regularly apply to them:

• Defining what you want in life. You have to know where you are going if you're going to have any chance of getting there. This relates to determining your values and putting a face on those things you want most from life.
• Setting goals. Goals help make interim achievements manageable and give structure to your efforts. Great goals are aligned with your personal values and provide enough direction to keep you focused.
• Making plans. Strong values and strong goals aren't enough to guarantee success. Goal planning requires prioritization, resource management, timing and precedence, and many other critical elements.
• Checking progress. An honest review of where you've been, where you are, and what comes next is a tremendously powerful asset. Make a regular habit of reviewing your progress and making adjustments as necessary.

Success isn't brain surgery. (Luckily, it's not shoulder surgery, either.) The key ingredients are no mystery, but being successful still requires attention and effort. To get it right, you've got to match your effort to the importance of the task at hand as well as how much work you have to do to get it right.

Fortunately, my surgery has been a success so far. I always had confidence in my doctor, and I'm glad he was prepared to take the necessary steps to protect my health. I'm sure I'll never look at handwashing the same way.

All of this has made me realize that I've got to go do some work on my own personal success plan. (Ouch.) That is, right after I'm out of this sling.

Coaching Quickie: Piled High

Check back next week for results!

Last Week's Results

Coaching Quickie: Tonight We Ride
In the world of goal achievement, what are you riding?

(00%) Trek Racing Bike - Move over, Lance Armstrong, my goals are waiting at the finish line.
(63%) Stumpjumper Mountain Bike - I'm prepared for the thrills, chills, and spills of life.
(25%) Huffy BMX - I've started to outgrow what used to help me win in life.
(13%) Schwinn with Banana Seat - I think my rusty chain just broke, and I'm going nowhere.