The Essential Ingredient To Success
Today you are going to see something a bit different from my normal articles. Normally, I write about hard-core business concepts. They tend to be rather straightforward and pragmatic. But I also know that part of business is stretching out of your comfort zone and trying on new hats. So today, I’m putting on my storyteller hat to share an experience that I think will be beneficial to you.
I was nine years old. We were trudging through the dark at the Cincinnati Zoo. It was a crisp night and they had started putting out the Christmas lights. The trees were glowing with light purples, whites and reds. There was magic in the air and it was cold enough for my favorite over-sized fleece jacket.
I was a member of the Junior Zoologist Club, a program at the zoo that met every Tuesday night, led by Barry Wakeman. I was fascinated by animals, big, small, slithery, furry – all animals.
That night, we walked into the rhino exhibit. There was a thick scent of hay and animal feed in the air, as the keepers were cleaning out the cages. Barry asked the group, “Who here remembers the name of the man who I was speaking of before? The man who I quoted.” I raised my hand timidly and whispered, “Confucius”. Barry looked over at me in delight and said, “Congratulations, Monica, you get to touch the rhino horn.”
I was suddenly terrified and delighted all at the same time. Barry was known to challenge his students, often working on just the areas that they needed help with the most. Mine were courage and leadership.
He opened up the exhibit doors and the keepers came around and gave me instructions on where to stand, how to stay out of the rhino’s way and what to do if it started to move or kick.
I slowly walked over and looked in its eyes. Its head was as large as my whole torso. The size and sheer might of the animal took my breath away. I reached up and touched the horn.
In that moment, my fear transformed immediately and I felt connected and alive – lit up like an electric current.
I had reached that wonderful place on the other side of fear.
I’ve never forgotten that moment. The moment where I looked straight at what I was afraid of and went up and touched it.
It is this same courage that I call upon every day in my business. I’ve mustered that same courage to step on stage, to call someone who intimidates me, to stand up for myself in a conflict.
I know all of you have courage as well. You too have that moment where you touched a rhino horn. What is that for you? How do you bring up those feelings to help you get through every day in your business?
Most people assume that things will get easier – that after a while you’ll stop being afraid, being uncomfortable.
What is true is that you just get comfortable with discomfort.
The important thing to do is keep your rhino moments close, and just keep moving forward.
I’d love to know what you think of my story – leave me a note below.
