I had an epiphany this week. As I spent a lunch reviewing the year-to-date, looking forward at the 4th Quarter and starting to plan what I wanted to do for 2012, it hit me.
I've kind of sucked.
Not in the "dude, you should probably go call the 1-800 truck driver number from the late night TV shows" kind of suck, but the "damn, that could have been done sooooo much better, been soooo much bigger and likely been far more successful..." kind of suck. Which got me to thinking....
What causes us to suck?
Think about it. What keeps people from delivering the truly groundbreaking, inspiring, world-changing ideas, projects, etc., that we all really, really want to create?
Me... I think it is a product of folks moving too fast, committing to too much and fearful that if they skip any opportunity or miss any opening they'll regret it. Sound familiar?
It's the kind of suck that Brian Clark (@copyblogger) was talking about over coffee, when I met him at Content Marketing World. We were discussing how a few projects we were both familiar with weren't working as well as the owners of the project would have wished. And Brian nailed it -- he said the person wasn't taking the time to plan it right, to do the work (to steal a Tom Webster - @webby2001 phrase).
I didn't realize it at the moment -- or maybe I did and just didn't want to accept it -- but Brian was talking about me and a whole lot of folks just like me. All running so fast after that terrible brass ring of success, that ring that dangles just.... outside... our... grasp... but...we're... just....sooooo.......close.
So we take on one more speaking gig, one more project or say yes to yet another fellow employee or boss' pet project.
And then we suck. We deliver something that is "good enough" rather than fucking spectacular.
So it's time... at least for me... and I hope for you if you're still reading this and thinking... damn, that's me.
Stop sucking. Insist on spectacular.
4 Ways To Suck Less.
First, say no once in a while. It's hard. But it's necessary. No frees you. No gives you back time. No let's you focus on what's important rather than what's possible.
Second, dream. That's right... dream, as in day-dream, night-dream or take the time to dream. Give youself permission to create spectacular.
Third, find partners. If you're not the best in the world at it, if you can't execute every aspect of your dream in spectacular fashion, find someone who is and partner.
Fourth, compete against yourself not others. You may be the most spectacular whatever, but if deep down you don't believe that you're the best you, well then at some level, you'll always suck. Right?
photo credits: by artwork_rebel & *~Dawn~*
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