Focus On The Desired Outcome

by Russell Tibbits

Anybody who has read our blog in the past has seen me write about being active. Staying healthy and active encompasses so much of my life outside of work. Today’s experience is no different.

Our season of flag football ended today, with disappointment. We ended last season fighting our way into the playoffs and losing to the eventual champions by 1 point. As a result, I signed up for this new season having high expectations, knowing we could at least do as well as we did last season. After weeks of struggling in the unusually high fall temperatures, a 3-3 record is all our team had to show for it. We won’t make the playoffs this year.

Okay, I’m done with the pity party; however, as a competitive person, it sometimes makes me wonder what it is we’re playing for. This loss ends our fourth season of football as a team and we have yet to win a playoff game. I’m not typically the type of person that always enjoys playing despite a loss, but I find it hard to see the good times or let go of mistakes when we can’t muster enough points for a victory.

When frustration shows its face after a loss in business or in sports, I’ve used the idea of creating a desired outcome statement at the beginning of large projects. By creating a desired outcome statement, we have a visual reminder of what our end result will be. This gives us motivation to complete the task at hand. Just like going through the down times with any other project, I have to quickly remind myself of the real reason I undertake these challenges and what my real objectives are. I suddenly realize that winning championships for flag football were never in the picture to begin with. Having fun, getting exercise and creating new friendships were the real objectives above all.

It’s always been the objective to help grow customers and ourselves; and with tips from the class, I feel like we can do just that.