Today's Guest Blogger is Andrew Weaver. Andrew has spent the past 13 years in customer service and sales, both in worlds of retail and B2B. By day he is a mild mannered team leader and logistics planner in the operations department at Con-way Truckload. By night, he is pursuing his passion for photography and writing. He is focused on launching his new photography business this spring. You should connect with him on Twitter - @drewmaniac - or his blog, Leave It To Weaver.
Sitting on the Sideline
by Andrew Weaver
"My body could stand the crutches but my mind couldn't stand the sideline." ~ Michael Jordan
In the short term, a good way to learn any job, sport, or hobby is to sit by and observe. There comes a time though, when you need to get into the action.
Most of you will get your feet wet. Most of you will try. Most of you will put out an effort (minimal effort is some effort) to succeed. Most of you will be willing to learn something new. Some of you though are content to sit on the sideline.
The temptation to sit on the sideline is very real and you can get caught on the sideline in many aspects of life.
· If you are comfortable with the job you hate because “it pays the bills”, you’re sitting on the sideline.
· If you are content to go with the flow simply because “that’s the way it’s always been done”, you’re sitting on the sideline.
· If you are afraid to change course, even as you can see there’s a trouble ahead if you don't, you’re sitting on the sideline.
· If you are waiting to join Twitter or network in any way (as The Today Show suggested earlier this week) until you are laid off, you’re sitting on the sideline.
Whatever your excuse for not coming off the sidelines of life and getting involved in the action, it's not good enough.
The person who is comfortable in the job he hates, will never wake up one day years later and be happy he stuck around. The person who never stands for anything and simply drifts in whatever direction her friends or family takes her, will never find herself doing what it is she truly loves. The person who is afraid to make a change in his life because he is uncomfortable with change, even when he knows that change will make him a better person, will never grow to be a better person. The person who is worried about her job and possible layoffs, but is waiting to network, is going to have a rude awakening if she ever faces a pink slip.
Trust me. You don't want your first Tweet to say, "Hi. New here to Twitter. Just got laid off. Looking for a job."
Are you sitting on the sideline in your life? With the economy like it is, the entrepreneurs and the risk takers are the ones that will most likely come out ahead. There is some great opportunity all around. Do not wait until you've received your pink slip to prepare. By then, it will probably be too late and it will certainly be more painful.
Come off the sidelines and join the rest of us in the game.
Thom's Two-Cents: Andrew is right, you cannot win the game if you do not play. You have to take action. I had someone ask me "How is it you have written three books and have three more coming out in 2009?" The answer? I wrote six books. I did not worry if anyone would read them. I did not just think about writing, I woke at 5 AM most days and wrote.
No matter what you want to do, just do it. Even if you are not successful, it is better than looking back saying I "wish" I had done something.
Have A Great Day.
thom
1 comment:
Good job Andrew.
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