A Vision of Success
Wildcat Mountain - Gorham, NH
I didn't learn to ski until I was 25 years old. For anyone else who had the same experience, you know how unnatural, uncomfortable, and uncoordinated it felt. One of my most vivid memories in life is laying prone on the ground, having wiped out again on the 'bunny' hill, and seeing all the 4- and 5-year-olds whizzing by me as if it was nothing. It was a moment; and in these kinds of moments, we can experience visions, establish goals, and make decisions.
In that moment, I envisioned myself being a good skier, determined my goal was to be able to ski with my friends, and decided that I would not quit until that was achieved. It wasn't a hope, it was going to be a grit-my-teeth and do it reality.
Fortunately, I was able to achieve these goals within 2 years. Most of my friends were very good skiers and spent most of their time on the black diamonds.
One weekend along the way, we went to Wildcat Mountain in NH, "The Cat", a true no frills, all thrills, skiers mountain. I'll never forget the moment, having just made it safely down Upper Wildcat black diamond trail, looking back and saying to myself...
"I skied that!"
This moment, 180 degrees away from that previously mentioned moment, was a touchstone through my entire career. Never again would I fear success. Instead, I would envision being successful and meeting the challenge. I didn't seek every mountain and wasn't without setbacks. But if it was a moment to choose, I had my own vision of success established that day when I was on my back at the bottom of the hill. Literally.
As a leader, are you establishing a vision of success for your team? Giving them a description and a window to see what success looks like?
As someone who is a new joiner or changing career paths...are you asking your leadership specifically 'what does success look like'?
A most powerful question indeed.
When the full team can have a shared vision of success, that can be what enables good companies, good teams, and good individual contributors to become best in class. To overachieve. To be game changers. And that's when the fun begins.
About the Author
Mark Pomerantz is a 40-year veteran of the print industry, primarily with OEM technology suppliers serving print service providers. Mark now operates independently through his company, SalesWisdom, providing services such as fractional sales, marketing, and special projects.
