In work, as in life, there are only 2 games you can play:
- The Underearning Game (Not to Lose)
- The High Earning Game (To Win)
Which one are you playing? (Be honest, now!)
The goal of the Underearning Game is Not to Lose, which means you must focus on playing it safe, looking good and staying comfortable, avoiding anything that could possibly be scary, awkward, embarrassing or (gasp!) lead to failure.
The goal of the High Earning Game is To Win by going as far as you can with all that you’ve got. And when you fall down, you get back up and keep going. Which means, despite your fear, you keep playing full out.
Problem is, it can be tough to tell which game you’re playing. There are times when I swear I’m giving my all, but later it hits me. I was fooling myself by holding back (even just a tiny bit means I’m playing it safe).
So, I devised the following list to help assess if you’re really playing to win.
5 Signs I’m Playing Full Out (check what applies to you).
- I know what I want and am committed to getting it. (And if I don’t know, I devote time and energy to figuring it out).
- I’m so focused on my vision that I don’t get distracted (at least not for long) by irrelevant, draining, or conflicting tasks.
- I’m willing to experience whatever it takes—defeat, discomfort, even humiliation—to achieve what I want.
- I don’t say ‘yes’ when I really want to say ‘no,’ even if it means upsetting another.
- Every time I’m afraid to do something, I force myself to do it anyway. (And I catch myself when I justify not doing it.)
I’d love to hear: How many did you check? Is there anything you’d add to this list? Leave a comment below.
If you enjoyed this Words of Wealth, click here to receive a copy in your inbox every week.
Comments & Feedback