When is it Too Late? ~ Stand Back & Reflect Series ~ Part 3

At the Olympic Winter Games in Nagano, Japan, Nikki Stone became America’s first-ever Olympic champion in the sport of aerial skiing.

”The Turtle Effect. First get in touch with your passion, your “soft inside”. Develop a hard shell, then stick your neck out...and go for gold!” ~ Nikki Stone – From her book When Turtles Fly - Source: Nikki Stone’s website - https://www.nikkistone.com/nikki-stone.htm

Why is sticking our neck out, even just a little bit ... so, so difficult for many?

Regret: In study after study of elderly people, the #1 item noted is the regret people had was for not living their life up to their full potential. End the "what ifs"!

When we don’t stick our necks out until later in life (or worse, never) we realize the many, many years we missed opportunities to live up to our potential.

I believe each time we don't intelligently (vs. haphazardly) stick our necks out to create new opportunities, another "regret" is sadly added to our list of missed opportunities. We take these vivid regrets in a nice bundle to our graves.

Reflect and see the faces of the many people who would have been the beneficiary of us sticking our necks out to share our talents while simultaneously improving their lives.

Self-centered decisions to not stick our necks out may protect us from possible failure now; but that choice, often leaves us with the bitter pill of regret to swallow later.

“Remembering that I’ll be dead soon is the most important tool I’ve ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life. Because almost everything — all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure — these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important.

Remembering that you are going to die is the best way, I know, to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart.” ~ Steve Jobs – The Commencement address delivered by Steve Jobs, CEO of Apple Computer and of Pixar Animation Studios, on June 12, 2005. - Source: https://news.stanford.edu/2005/06/14/jobs-061505/

Do any of us know when our last day will come? Even famous people such as Steve Jobs, John Lennon, MLK, JFK, Roberto Clemente, etc. could not have predicted the date of their passing. How possibly can we?

We've all observed the astonishing abilities of leaders throughout our lives whom we've admired and been momentarily motivated. Yet the majority of us simply return to our mediocre routines in both our professional and personal life … why?

Can we use motivation observed from those whom we admire as “fuel” to do great(er) things, taking greater, calculated risks or help others in more significant ways?

If we're afraid of possibly failing, then not trying may preserve our ego or provide the false perception we only have successes; but, we’re simple choosing (consciously or unconsciously) to forfeit becoming the more significant leader whom we could become.

Sobering Reminder: Our gifts of talents including, but not limited to perseverance, vision, intelligence, work ethic, educational opportunities, etc. … have been availed to us predominantly to help others, not solely for self-serving benefits!

These may appear to be direct, harsh words; but, they are meant to provide encouragement for the small percentage of leaders that “get it”. The same few that will have many fewer regrets when it's time to watch the final video of their lives.

Examples Where Your Professional Talents are Transferable: Lack of Fresh water for 1+ billion people, homelessness, lack of educational opportunities, autism discrimination, etc. Rather than doing nothing, help dig one new well for fresh water, get on one Board for homelessness, raise funds for one person to go to college, hire one person on the autism spectrum, etc.

"Good is the enemy of Great". - Jim Collins

The light in life is bright green … life is short … go now ... go hard ... go fast … have fewer regrets later in life!

Our brothers and sisters in our neighborhood, country and world that weren't exposed to the opportunities we've enjoyed, are waiting on you and me!

So … When is it “too late” to realize what you could have done and the great (not just good) leader you could have become?

You are the only one accountable for your life and for providing the answer to this powerful, inescapable question to yourself.

The wonderful news; each of us will have the opportunity to watch the “video of our life” just before we meet our maker. We’ll have the vivid, unbiased opportunity to observe our choices, missed opportunities, etc.

Past episodes of our lives may be humbling or even disappointing. The GREAT news … all future episodes will provide us the opportunity to live a purpose-driven life and it will become part of our permanent, final video.

The world and the person in the mirror awaits your decisions.

Thoughts? ~ JR

“Never use my death as an excuse for anything, but motivation for everything.” - Stefanie Spielman to her children

This is Post #3 of 4 in the new Stand Back & Reflect Series by James Roncevich (JR)

JR is finishing up his positive impact book on a new, more intelligent approach to Corporate Social Responsibility. The book provides cutting-edge thinking to simultaneously create new net income streams for companies and non-profit organizations. It's written for top 7.5% leaders capable of integrating their professional and personal life into living an overall enriching, purpose-motivated and successful life (not just career).

Top-performers committed to leading organizations more effectively can significantly increase organizational Net Income, Positive Social Impact and enjoy Personal Growth. Warning: The content is direct, more complex and requires new thought processes. The top 7.5% will find the content refreshing, meaningful and actionable.

JR is President of International Performance Group, www.ipgl.com, a unique consulting firm that helps create new Net Income streams for Companies, Organizations, Hospitals and Non-Profits in order to improve their bottom-lines while simultaneously providing new monies for Positive Social Impact.

Contact Information: [email protected] or 303.549.5051

(1) The image at the top of this post is included to increase awareness of the breast cancer research taking place at The James at The Ohio State University, Stefanie Spielman Fund for Breast Cancer Research and the tireless efforts of Chris and Stefanie (1967-2009) Spielman. Spielman Website

On a personal note, Stefanie was in the row in front of me at the funeral mass for one of the members of her support group and a friend of mine, that had passed. Even though Stefanie had been diagnosed with cancer years earlier, she looked as though she'd live another 50 years. She and Chris (who continues to) positively changed the world.

If you or your company would like to help with funding breast cancer research, let me know or go to the The Stefanie Spielman Fund for Breast Cancer Research .