First Time Performance
“I have looked in the mirror every morning and asked myself: ‘If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I am about to do today?’ And whenever the answer is ‘No’ for too many days in a row, I know I need to change something.”
Steve Jobs
I’ve Been Thinking. . . about a modification in the way I approach everything I do.
A reporter once commented to Hall of Fame Baseball Player Joe DiMaggio: “Joe, you always seem to play ball with the same intensity. You run out every grounder and race after every fly ball, in the dog days of August when the Yankees have a big lead in the pennant race and there’s nothing on the line. How do you do it?”
DiMaggio replied, “I always remind myself that there might be someone in the stands who never saw me play before.”
How would it be different if you approached every project as your first big opportunity to shine? How would it be different if every customer received the absolute best service you have to offer? How would it be different if your professional life depended on how well you perform? It does!
I recently completed a tour of ‘30’ locations sharing the same message with ‘30’ different teams. I knew it was imperative that I exhibited the same passion and energy for the message with every team. No one should know if it was my 1st or 30th presentation.
In everything you do, do it with the intensity you would if it was your first time. First or last, everyone and everything deserves your best effort.
A fifty something commercial airline pilot exited the cockpit before our flight and addressed the passengers.
“Good Morning Everyone. I’m Captain Alan. Welcome aboard flight 2889 to Atlanta. I appreciate your business, especially on the 15th and 30th of the month when I cash my paycheck and pay my mortgage. The flight to Atlanta will be smooth. Great weather all along the way. If there is anything I can do to earn your business in the future, please let me know.”
This guy does what he does like no other pilot I’ve encountered. Our flight certainly wasn’t his first gig. There is no doubt he has flown 1000’s of flights but none as important as ours - - - or so he made it seem.
Fred drives taxi. But, Fred drives taxi like no one else drives taxi. He’s passionate about serving his customers and giving them a quality experience in a pristinely clean vehicle, wearing clean, pressed, dress clothes on the island of the Bahamas. Fred, he tells me, stands for rich and famous. So, I called him Famous Fred.
Famous Fred endeared us and entertained us on a three-hour tour of the island. He was also able to secure a substantial tip because Famous Fred does what he does like no one else does it. I’m convinced Famous Fred may live up to his title someday.
Daniel was a restroom attendant in a lavatory at an outside sporting event. (Not the most glamorous position I can think of). He wore patent leather black shoes, with coordinating dress pants, vest and bow tie. Remember, this is a lavatory attendant. Daniel was a delight. His penetrating smile, servant attitude and bubbling spirit made using the restroom a ‘unique’ experience.
And, by the way, Daniel never forgot my name during the 3-day event.
Steve Jobs commented before his death: “Being the richest man in the cemetery doesn’t matter to me. Going to bed at night saying we’ve done something wonderful, that’s what matters to me.”
“Doing something wonderful” is achievable by everyone no matter what they do.
Do what you do like no one else does it - - - every time - - - and you will create something wonderful for someone.
“The more strongly you feel about what you do, the more likely you are to push yourself to be good at it and find a way to make a success of it.”
Blake MyCoskie
Toms