Hurt Yourself Today

Posted on by Malcolm Munro in Motivate You, Professional Development

I hurt myself today, to see if I still feel…

Johnny Cash

Recently I’ve had a run of some very tough clients and some tough workshops.  It happens to me about once a year and although it’s miserable at the time, I need it to keep my edge.

I do so many workshops that at times I am tempted to put it on autopilot and just coast in.  I never do though, my audiences deserve far more.  It’s quite rare however that I put in so much prep time before each day.  That week I learned that challenging myself is a great thing to do.  My last two subsequent workshops have been really good – not only have the audiences been pleased, I’ve been pleased at my effort as well.  A good challenge brought out the best in me.

One of the greatest fights I ever watched was Buster Douglas’s knockout victory over Mike Tyson in 1990.  Tyson took the 42-1 underdog Douglas too lightly and paid the price.  Tyson’s prior string of easy victories caused him to disregard preparing for Douglas and was never the same after that fight.

When was the last time you really challenged yourself?

Are you at a place right not where what you do on a daily basis is so easy that you could do it in your sleep?  Does excellence come so natural to you that you don’t work at it anymore?  If so, why not challenge yourself this week to do something totally different?  Shake things up a little.  Here are some suggestions:

• Take a different way in when you drive to work
• Take the bus or Metro for a change
• Talk to a stranger
• Begin a project that requires different skills than you normally use
• Place yourself on a new team
• Ask your boss for an assignment that will make you research and study
• Take on a new exercise routine

Mediocrity is the eventual result of a life without significant challenges.  Don’t allow your rut to guide you into poor performance.  Don’t be lulled into just existing.  Maybe like the lyric above, you need to hurt yourself to see if you still feel (figuratively of course!).  I know now that excellent performance needs to be worked at each and every day.  Let’s commit to working toward that together this week!

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