Why Taking Action is Like Hoisting the Game Winner
What do Michael Jordan and Lewis Howes have in common?
They’re both over 6’0” [check]
They’re both athletes [check]
They’re both unafraid to take action. [Ding Ding Ding]
“I’ve missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. 26 times, I’ve been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.” – Michael Jordan
Lewis admits he’s not the smartest person online (though he’s sharper than he gives himself credit for.) So why has he been successful in building a brand, maintaining a solid website with a host of talented writers, written a book, and hosted numerous paid seminars and webcasts attended by people all over the country?
It’s because he takes action. All the time. And he’s not the only one. Matt Cheuvront also comes to mind. Who else do you know that has been successful because they’re relentless in their pursuit of action?
I’m willing to suspect there are some projects Lewis has done that didn’t work out so well along the way. Guess what? Just like people don’t remember all the game winners Jordan lost, they won’t remember the times you’ve tried and failed — provided that you learn from your mistakes, and have a few successes along the way.
Depending on the list you’re looking at Jordan has made between 22 to 25 game winners in his career, less than he’s missed, albeit that’s a ridiculous success rate. Yours probably won’t be that good, and it doesn’t matter. It usually only takes a few successes to counter the failures.
I often spend way too much time calculating this and that, weighing every variable, and anxiously awaiting a sign from above that my idea is the right one or will be a success. You probably do to.
What if we just started hoisting game winners? We might miss a few at first, and we’d probably never make as many as Jordan, or Godin, or Kern, but I suspect that the more chances we take, the more deadly our aim will become.
Photo Credit: jpangan3
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Wow! Taking action, what a novel idea! Too many people (especially in academia) do a lot of talking but never do anything! It is okay to take chances. Nothing ever happens by sitting on the sidelines and watching other people. How can we expect our students to take action if we dont lead be example?
.-= TimNATC´s last blog ..Networking and Fantasy Football =-.
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admin Reply:
September 10th, 2009 at 10:42 am
@Tim – I hadn’t really thought about it from an academia perspective, but you’re 100% correct. I have a lot of respect for professors who are pushing themselves with challenging research, still publish articles, and books even after they’ve received tenure.
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I prefer to do my awesomeness by posting up, shoving off and taking the easy buckets.
I’m not flashy. I just take it to the hole.
.-= Stuart Foster´s last blog ..Is your community a purpose-driven one? =-.
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admin Reply:
September 10th, 2009 at 10:43 am
@Stuart – For the record, I would break your ankles son.
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Ryan, you are too kind my friend. Thanks for even putting me in the same breath as the greatest basketball player of all time… I’m honored.
.-= Lewis Howes´s last blog ..Using LinkedIn for Sports =-.
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admin Reply:
September 13th, 2009 at 5:18 pm
@Lewis – It’s probably the only similarity you two share.
I respect the fact that you decided this is what you were going to do, were certain you’d succeed, and took action. And it’s certainly paying dividends. You’ve helped demonstrate to me, and others that it’s okay to take a chance even when everything doesn’t necessarily ‘feel right.’ I wish you all the best in your continued success.
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Good thoughts and examples, but all I can think of is “man love” “bromance” and “it’s guy love between two guys”
.-= Jake Rosen´s last blog ..Top 10 Social Media Blogs =-.
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September 10th, 2009 at 12:35 pmI have learned you have to take action… With out action you will never get anywhere. Only you can better yourself, learn from your mistakes and become a better professional. Sure you need some help along the way but if you are trying then people will take notice.
.-= Jamie Favreau´s last blog ..Cool Stuff Going on in the D… =-.
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admin Reply:
September 13th, 2009 at 5:21 pm
I think we’re more or less on the same page Jamie. I’d also say that you can (and will) likely learn from mistakes, but you can also learn from others mistakes as well. The more well-read and knowledgeable you are about your pursuits, the more prepared you will be to take action. Thanks for contributing to the conversation!
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As one of my favorite lines in Hairspray says: “You’ve got to run the race to win the prize.” For some reason, it’s often the first step that’s the hardest.
My other favorite line in Hairspray is: “They say that white has might and thin is in, but that’s just bull cause baby big is back and as for black? It’s beautiful!” But I’m not sure how relevant that is to this post.
.-= Akirah´s last blog ..Advice #5: Concerned =-.
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admin Reply:
September 13th, 2009 at 5:25 pm
Akirah – You and Queen Latifah let’em know what’s up! I didn’t remember that quote (Wait, did I just admit I watched that film?), but you certainly enticed a laugh from me.
As for the other, I couldn’t agree more. It’s so easy to listen to all the hearsay and doubt (from yourself and others), and then convince yourself to hold off until you’re more prepared. As a runner I’ve been guilty of skipping races I’d circled months in advance, and not because I doubted my preparation, but because I doubted the results.
In reality the more races I run, the more experience I acquire, the better I get. The more like-minded people I meet, the stronger my community/support system becomes. Great analogy!
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To be ready to succeed you must be prepared to fail.
I think MJ is probably one of the best examples of perseverance and drive getting you to where you want to be. The man is an athlete, no doubt, but couldn’t even keep a spot on his HS varsity team!
I think the most important part of any success from failure is learning from the failure and having the gusto to come back twice as strong and armed with new knowledge. I’d venture the 22/25 game winners were all made from adjusting the 26 game losers.
.-= Elisa´s last blog ..Why Every Girl Needs A Guy…Friend =-.
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admin Reply:
September 13th, 2009 at 6:17 pm
I think, (rather know) you’re right. But then I wonder. What’s the primary thing that keeps us from taking chances. Is it our own self-confidence? Is it fear of scrutiny for friends? Family? Co-workers? If someone told you that’d you fail big time 4 times throughout the course of 6 years, but in the 7th you’d strike it rich and be ridiculously successful — everyone would go through those failures, right?
Well that formula happens much more often than someone getting it right the first time, yet we all tip toe around waiting for the ‘perfect’ opportunity, business model, etc. What if we just said, screw it, and shot the rock?
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Elisa Reply:
September 13th, 2009 at 9:50 pm
Creepy…is my living room bugged? I was JUST having this conversation with my sister as I’m getting ready for so many big changes next summer its overwhelming and crazy and foolish and I will probably fail but dammit it’s gonna be one hell of a ride!
No one else wants me to do it, no one else thinks it is a good move, everyone else suggests to take the safe route rather than the balls out shot that I’m dying to attempt.
I will say, in addition to being able to take advantage of the moment to go for the glory, there is some preparation and practice and technique that must go into it. As you noted, MJ didn’t just become one of the greatest athletes of all time, he worked his ass off to get there.
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Ryan: there’s a youtube video of that quote referenced above (Michael Jordan)…I love that quote and I love that video; it’s inspiring!
Amazing things can be accomplished when you’re unafraid to take risks…
.-= Ricardo Bueno´s last blog ..[College Humor Video] Real Life Twitter =-.
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