Change your Belief System, Change your Future!

In any industry, at any time, all the time, people are looking at those around them and asking themselves, why? Why didn’t I get this, why is someone else getting that or any and every other version of why not me. The racquets industry is no exception. In fact, nothing could be truer of where we are today. As Racquets continues to explode nationally there are greater responsibilities and demands on our leaders. A mentor of mine once said, “accomplishing the impossible only means the boss adds it to your regular duties,” and he was spot on. The leaders of Racquets continue to accomplish the impossible every day. They have gone from experts in one sport to the experts in multiple sports. In many ways the workload has doubled if not tripled and it is in every way now a part of their daily responsibilities.

????????????????? It is important to remember that everyone is in the same situation, it is how that situation is viewed that differs. On average directors went from running one racquet sport to now having between two and three racquet sports to lead. Director’s responsibilities are similar, the expectations are equal and yet the levels of success range as far and wide as the eye can see. The best in racquets understand one simple truth, that “more responsibility means more opportunity,” and more importantly they allow disruptions to deepen their concentration of their end goal…to achieve success. Leaders understand that nobody succeeds accidentally and if one can change their belief system, they can undoubtably change their future.

????????????????? Let’s consider compensation for a second. ?One of the many complaints across the board in the racquets industry is compensation structure. The question becomes if a director has added responsibilities which generate greater revenue why is that revenue not shared or higher salaries being seen? This is a logical question that one could argue can be asked in any industry…should more responsibility not demand a higher payout? I see this time and time again and it is the wrong outlook. This is not a question that should be asked and more importantly a demand that should ever be expected. It is a fact that added responsibilities should almost never equal a higher payout, however, added responsibilities should always equal more opportunities. It is what one does with those opportunities that ultimately create a higher payout. All contracts are different because every person is different. It is ignorant to think that someone should make the same as someone else simply because they share a title. If you want more, you need to become more, do more, write more, speak more, you need to become more valuable in your industry. This will always start by taking a long look in the mirror and asking yourself, “am I doing everything I possibly can to improve?” I would bet for most, the answer is no.

Education is at the forefront of the hospitality industry and at the heart of racquets. By continually learning we are not only investing in ourselves but taking a bigger investment in the future of others. We are also increasing the reach of our network/community which ultimately is our one size fits all key to opportunity. It is in your community that even more opportunities wait for those who can recognize, often, what is right in front of them. If education teaches us anything it is that success does not come easy, and it almost never comes without sacrifice.

????????????????? As leaders if we can focus on what is right in front of us then we can focus on what is ahead of us. On the flipside, if we spend all our time taking inventory of what we lost (time) then we will always miss what we do have. Our future is not predicated on what we lost but rather what we have left. What we have left is enough to build something greater than what we currently have. There are so many lessons and experiences that come through the sacrifices one makes. You are stronger, wiser, and most importantly you have proven that you can overcome everything that has been thrown your way to get to this point. The added demands of racquets are nothing more than added challenges and limitless doors of opportunity that can open or shut based on your outlook. Instead of asking for more, have a work ethic that is insatiable, befriend the best with similar goals, go after the opportunity and keep your eyes open. Success comes from watching others, by pushing forward, so keep moving, keep producing, keep striving for more because work ceases to be work when you love it. We were made to be productive, resourceful, and there is always something to do with the expertise of our experiences. Let these experiences and opportunities continue to shape you into the leader you need to be and focus on the lessons and behaviors of the leaders you want to be, and in the end, you will not be surprised when you have it all!