The Power of the Moment
August 15, 2008
Sometimes we find our lessons tucked away in the most interesting places! If you keep your eyes open, you can find profound moments of quiet guidance all around you.
My brother Mike coaches Canada’s highest-earning female athlete, recent Queen’s Plate winning jockey Emma Jayne Wilson. Elite athletes have always fascinated me; they have such an uncommon ability to focus! So when Emma Jayne was in town for a local race, I was excited to spend some time with her.
While we were talking, I asked her about the experience of being in the race – and she said the most interesting thing: When she’s actually racing, she never thinks about the outcome. She stays totally committed to the present moment — so much, in fact, that it feels as if time slows down.
When she said that, I stopped in my tracks. It was like I could hear it filtering through all the layers of my life — family, relationships, work, friendships, even learning. you can only really “win” when you’re fully present in the moment. When we stay fully committed to the goal, and fully present with the moment, the outcome has a way of taking care of itself.
As our conversation continued, Emma Jane dropped another gem. She told me that when she’s not actually racing, she anchors herself in the vision and the emotion of winning. This makes the race much more compelling for her. When she focuses on what she really wants – and why she wants it so much – the goal pulls her forward on her path.
In my work as a personal coach, I’ve noticed that people often struggle to create a vision for their life or career – until they get clear on how they will feel when they get there. Once that piece is in place, their vision, commitment and energy really start to grow.
Here’s the bottom line: If you want to create lasting results, develop a clear and compelling goal, and then have the courage to pour 100% of yourself into achieving that goal.
You may have heard of Jean Paré, author of the wildly popular Company’s Coming cookbooks, but did you know that the entire series was born from the trunk of her car? Jean knew she wanted to author and sell her own cookbooks, but she had no idea how. She didn’t know about approaching a publisher, or contracting with a printer, or anything else about publishing. No matter. her desire to succeed was bigger than her not knowing. So she printed up the first cook book, packed up a bunch of copies in the trunk of her car and went from store to store, town to town, selling them the way she assumed it should be done. Only later did she learn about the traditional publishing process. She may have done it the “wrong” way, but she took her vision of success on the road, and she tried whatever it took to make it happen. She lived in the moment and did what had to be done.
These women inspire me. They remind me that we all have what it takes inside each of us to do whatever we set our minds to. With a clear vision that is emotionally compelling and focused action, you have the world in your hand.
As a Coach, I Recommend:
Whenever I meet someone extraordinary, I ask myself, What can I learn form this person? How does this person’s success translate in my life? Here’s what I learned from Emma Jayne:
1. Know what outcome you are committed to creating.
What is your goal? Make sure it’s crystal clear, because vague goals lead to murky places. Tweak it over time and keep reminding yourself of why you want it. When you tap into the emotional appeal of your goal, it will truly light you up inside.
2. Hold a strong balance between vision and action.
Where in your life do you get caught up in the vision but fail to take enough action? Where are you too busy with tasks to form a clear vision? The fastest progress comes with a balance of the two.
3. Where do you need to make adjustments?
Like racing a horse, life is a series of subtle course corrections. Be willing to shift in order to win.
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