Try the Back Door

Imagine you’re in a single-elimination playoff game (you can imagine whatever team sport you want here) and, for a variety of reasons – injury, illness, etc. – your team is suddenly without substitutions. You’re exhausted, you’ve still got half a game to play, but if you win this game – your team advances to the championship… 

Imagine that in this same playoff game, there’s suddenly an entire bench full of able-bodied, highly capable players. If you’re not doing your job, your coach can easily sub you out..

Imagine the stress and pressure you feel to perform at your best in this scenario. Imagine how it might support your performance to believe that this is the single most important game of your life. Conversely, imagine how it might support your performance to believe it’s just another game..

 In which scenario would you play that second half of the game better – if your team was up by 1 or down by 1? In which scenario would you run faster – chasing someone or being chased by someone? 

Let’s zoom out and pivot for a moment. Think to a time you had a lot of things you wanted to do in a day, were struggling to find motivation, and in an effort to incite direction (and more importantly, action) made a to-do list. Now imagine – same scenario – making a have-already-done list. In which instance would you spark more momentum, more forward action?

A reminder: there’s an option to reframe how you approach anything, and in a way that maximizes engagement unique to you.  

Are you actively exploring new routes? I hear the back door’s always open, you just gotta carve your own path..