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FLYING HIGH IS ALL ABOUT ATTITUDE
Monday Nov. 23, 2015
High achievement is survival, but with an attitude!
More important – being the kind of person who achieves. More about to be goals, than to do goals. I believe there is significant difference. Not nuances of being good loser or gracious winner – I mean, the why of it more than the how of it. What we achieve might, in eyes of many, be product of how hard we worked, how many times we tried, or practiced, some good luck, good equipment, good coaching, good weather combo.
In every competitive element of life, those help but don’t of themselves equate to success, or even to survival. No guarantees. Every day we struggle with things. OK, compared to people who really struggle in life, it isn’t struggling that we do. Better defined I believe as making an effort.
But seriously – does merely making an effort, however good quality that effort may consistently be, equate to success on any measurable level. Now, I know many people will say, “hey, I’m not aiming for that …”
We know. How do we know? In most people we encounter, we don’t see anything one might interpret as excellent or as an attempt at excellence. It could be argued that many people aren’t aimed at excellence or high achievement. I say poppycock and bullfeathers to that. That’s just excuse making.
While I’ve met many people who aren’t significantly obviously motivated to achieve something, I know they were at some point. Somewhere along the way they wanted to be top of their class, first over the finish line or win the gold star. Maybe their pursuits were academic, but only one kid can be top of the class each year. Maybe their pursuits were athletic, but they only give one gold medal in each sport. Maybe their pursuits were the top job, the happiest marriage, being the best parent, crossing a bridgeless gorge or digging themselves out of a deep hole. OK, now we’re talkin …
Any given Monday seems appropriate to start something. So many times I’ve set out on a new week with great plans and grand ambitions only to see myself undone by obstacles, circumstances and by my own focus v. distractions which form part of every day …
I’ve asked myself this question often – yesterday it reverberated as I pondered life, reality, hopes, dreams and many Mondays: When we try to do what we try to do, are we really doing our best?
Mark Kolke
P.S.: to my friends in the Toastmasters world, and perhaps others who are interested to know, at the District 42 Conference (Alberta and Saskatchewan), 12 contests representing 12 divisions competed in the Annual Table Topics (impromptu speaking) Competition; I drew speaking spot #12, spoke last and finished 2nd. Obviously 1st would have been a little better! In any case, being 2nd in the District this year feels pretty good too. To those who want to know how it works: contestants are brought into the room, one at a time – each is asked the same question and then, without delay, delivers a timed speech in answer to that question. Minimum is 1:00, maximum is 2:30. I’m told a video link will be provided to me in due course. When I get it I’ll post it here so interested readers can watch …
written / published from Calgary, AB
morning walk: -4C/25F, overcast, light breeze – good footing! I walked a familiar route without Gusta (I’m picking her up at the kennel this morning) pulling me off-line, steady and joint-pain free – it’s nice to be home in familiar territory. Walking on bare sidewalks is nice too …
Reader feedback:
FAR BETTER OR WORSE
Morning Mark. Brilliantly written and exactly how I feel. Every day we have a choice about what we allow to drive us. We choose between either fear (the most damaging ) or love (the higher most productive) from which I believe all those advancements you spoke of were born. I'm not going to argue that one. The fact is that we are powerful and the most powerful tool we have to effect change in the world is the power of example. Choose love as it is contagious and erodes fear; it inspires us to realize the best possible scenario for all concerned. Kindest Regards, SP, Calgary, AB
I was in geometry class in Houston Texas when the news came over the p. a. system about the shooting of Kennedy and John Connolly in Dallas . We students were in the cafeteria a short time later when it was announced that Kennedy had died . The school was closed and everyone went home . The school was also closed on the day of the funeral and everyone watched it pretty well all day long .It was the first shocking world event of my life …………………..there have been many more since then , the moon landing, fall of the communist block and 9/11 standout in particular. One other event we often forget about was when a student at the University of Texas climbed a tower on the campus and shot numerous students down until he was shot by police ………it was a shocking horror then but only a small precursor of what has become a regular event in the world …………...the slaughter of innocent people by sad, sick people with guns . With respect to your musings, I agree that things are better now than they were then …………….the world can be a dangerous place now but was worse in 1963, AN, Calgary, AB
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