Where?
Why?
How?
These are questions which can guide us to what we most desire. Answering these questions is necessary for individuals and organizations to get “On our Mark, Get Set and Go!” They define direction and provide impetus to go forward decisively.
Where are we going and is this really where we want to go? This is the first question we should ask. On a personal level, we often intuitively know the answer. If we are truly happy with our situation, we can continue in the same direction. If we are not headed where we want to be, it is important to first define what we really want. It could be something material or emotional which needs to be modified. It is different for every one and each person’s answer will be unique. Yogi Berra expresses this thought wonderfully: “If we don’t know where we are going, we will end up someplace else!” In order to eliminate ending up “someplace else,” it’s crucial to “Get on our Mark.”
The viability of a company depends on the path it is taking. Without direction an organization will soon become yesterday’s news and the owners, as well as the employees, will be adversely affected. While it is normally the directors and owners who define the mission, all who work there give it body and soul. Unless everyone works for a common good, all will end up doing something else because the organization will not survive.
With “Our Mark” defined, we can clarify the reason we should take this route. Why should we change our direction if we are not achieving what we desire? A burning desire will lead us to “Get Set” and drive toward the destiny we choose. For people and organizations a strong “why” is fundamental. We are incredibly creative and have an amazing capability to do what needs to be done when we have a fire which burns inside our belly. A company which emanates a strong “why” has associates, rather than employees, and they work to achieve something much bigger than simply making a sale or generating an invoice. A strong “why” creates magic which leads individuals and organizations to overcome challenges.
Being “On our Mark and Set to Go” we can determine how we are going to get there. How can we achieve the results we want? In many cases it’s simple, though not always easy. If we want to lose weight, we need to eat less and exercise more. If we want to enhance our emotional state, we need to change the patterns we use to evaluate what happens to us. If we want to increase income by obtaining and maintaining the people we serve, we need to provide better service and enhance quality. An organization with employees who all look after their own interests needs a common thread which weaves its people into the strong fabric of a team.
While the answers we give in life are important, they are not nearly as important as the questions we ask. Our interpretation of reality depends on our perspective and our ability to ask questions which will lead us in the right direction. Individuals and organizations go forward based on the questions they ask themselves. When we improve our ability to ask powerful questions we get “On our Mark, Set and Ready to Go” to achieve all we desire.
∞ Rob McBride ∞
LL II 15