Minnesota only has two seasons:
Winter…and road construction.
Haha, bad joke. But Thursday morning in Minnesota was one of those winter mornings. Heavy, blowing snow and reasonably cold. When you grow up in MN, it’s what you sign up for this time of year.
I had a speaking engagement that morning for SEGC (Small Emerging Growth Companies) just outside of Minneapolis:
Speaking in the ugly Xmas sweater for SEGC. Last gig of 2024!
They start early - everyone arrives by 7:30am - and I seriously wondered how many people were going to show. It took me double the amount of time it normally does to drive there.
The topic was "Daily Execution. Extraordinary Results." It helps people think differently about their goals, strategize and achieve them. Very popular this time of year.
When I walked in, the room was packed. I couldn't believe it.
And as I started speaking, I had to call an audible.
I looked outside the windows to my right, with the blowing, drifting snow and low visibility, and couldn't help but think that so much of extraordinary results comes down to one very simple thing:
Showing up.
And not showing up when everything is perfect. Anyone can do that. It takes no talent.
I'm talking about showing up when you don't feel like it. When it's hard. When it's inconvenient.
In this case, showing up when conditions are far from optimal. Every person in the audience could have stayed in their warm bed in their warm house and said, "I don't need to show up, I can go another time." But they didn't.
I wanted them to know that and they deserved to hear it. It's no small thing.
So, before I punch out for the weekend, that's my challenge to you going into the new year:
Show up.
When you don't want to. When it's difficult. When others won't...and don't. When it's heavy, blowing, drifting snow.
That's a distinguishing characteristic of what makes you an Outperformer.
Wishing you the happiest of holidays,
