"80% of success is showing up." - Woody Allen
Some days, I wake up and
contemplate getting out of bed. I'm sure everyone starts off some mornings
wishing it was the weekend. I stare at my alarm clock and debate sleeping in
another hour or two. Even though I struggle to come out of that "Get-out-of-bed"
groggy state for a few minutes, I still get up. Every. Single. Day. I do this
because skipping the first step is not an option.
“Vulnerability is about showing up and being seen. It's tough to
do that when we're terrified about what people might see or think.” - Brene Brown
The truth is, nothing good
happens if you don't show up first. There are so many times in life I make
commitments to people to be somewhere and don't actually want to go. The time
comes and something better will have come up or I am just too tired to do it.
But showing up is the first step. Something good will always happen when you
show up.
By not showing up, you miss
opportunities. Chances to improve yourself and learn from others. Chances to
grow and make a difference. Chances to share yourself with others and give them
an opportunity to learn from you.
This morning, my day started
off on the wrong foot. I didn't get to bed until 11:30 pm last night (which is
VERY late for me) and slept about 40 minutes later than I had planned. This
resulted in missing my shower I had planned (not necessarily needed but had
planned on) and feeling rushed to get back on my normal schedule. At this
point, I was a split second decision away from throwing in the towel on the day
and going back to bed.
But I didn't.
I got ready and went downstairs where
I was greeted by my dad. It made my morning just to see him for a
few moments and hear him tell me he loved me and to have great day. If I
had gone back to bed, I would've missed this. It put me on the right foot and
my day was turned around. I was reminded how lucky I am to have a great family.
I took the first step of the day, and the opportunity to see my dad had already
presented itself.
I continued on with my
morning and was able to get to work at my normal time. I knew that I had a
significant amount of work I would need to do and it was already making me
worry. I sat at my desk and then began working, trying to play catch up from
the mass amount of days I had to work from home with the snow.
Even with the assignments I
knew I had to do, I was reminded about the positives when I sat down at my desk
. It's the Friday before a long weekend and I am at the job I love and look
forward to going to every day (even still with a big work pile). Every day that
I come to work, something great happens. I'll learn something new from my boss,
do an assignment for someone, or complete a project. Not to mention that I
directly benefit from working with a salary.
The best part about being a
part of a team is that what you do specifically affects the success of your
boss or peers. I learn a significant amount from my boss on a regular basis. He
is patient, responsible, and knowledgeable. He has been an absolute
pleasure to work with and I am really lucky to be working with him. What I
do at work has a direct impact on my boss every day and that makes us a team.
How can I help him and my team if I don't show up first?
I learn so much on a regular
basis from work and school. Even one day that I miss could be mean a lifetime
of opportunities missed. Maybe today was the day your boss relied on my help on
a project that he then had to do himself, and HE missed an opportunity. Maybe
today was the day in class where you learned a concept that then would help you
in the future on a test. Maybe today was the day your friends got together for
lunch, but you weren't there. You missed it.
"Showing up is not all of life - but it counts for a lot." - Hillary Clinton
Show up, because you will
benefit from it and so will others.
You can't complete a task,
goal, assignment, etc. by skipping the first step. The first step, is showing
up. Anything you desire to do large or small requires that first initial step to get going. If
you show up, you have already completed the biggest part of your job. By
showing up you are sharing your most valuable gift, your presence, and you will
be appreciated in unexpected ways.
Take the
first step always. Do the things you love and go outside of your comfort zone.
Do the things you fear most. All you have to do is show up and 80% of the job
is done. You can never get to the final project, the completed goal, or the
finish line without taking the first step.
I'm still
learning as a young adult how to let go of the doubts, worries, and fears that
I have and embracing the good in life rather than focusing on the bad. The first step is showing up, following
through on plans and sharing what I have to offer with the world. The
difference between those who succeed and those who don't is directly related to
who comes to the table.
Show up where you say you'll be.
Show up when you say you will
And Show
up when you should.
Good
things will always happen.
