The Randomness of Impact
Okay, campers, rise and shine, and don't forget your booties, 'cause it's cold out there today. It's cold out there every day. What is this, Miami Beach?...............That's right, woodchuck-chuckers - it's GROUNDHOG DAY!
Groundhog Day is one of my all-time favorite movies. I've probably seen it 50-100 times over the last 30 years. To this day, I can't put my finger on why I love it so much. Maybe it's the fantasy of the concept. Maybe it's the humor. Maybe it's the nostalgia. Maybe it's the colorful characters (Bing!).
Regardless of the reason, it just stuck with me. It's not the best movie in the world. Heck, it's not even Bill Murray's best movie. But it stuck! That's the wild part about putting our ideas and art into the world. The one we think will be a hit can flop, and the ones we don't give much thought to can stick.
If I had a dollar for every podcast episode or blog I felt self-conscious about but absolutely stuck, I'd have a lot of dollars! There are some days when I second-guess hitting "publish." There are some days I prepare myself to feel embarrassed by my work. There are some days I feel like I'm just letting you down. But oddly enough, those days are often the ones that garner the most replies, shares, and conversation.
Self-talk is a thief. It can be the one thing that robs the world of something special. One doubtful moment can steal the impact you were meant to have on someone else.
It's like hockey. Not all shots are going into the net, but the more shots we put up, the better our chance of scoring. That's one thing I've learned about publishing two podcast episodes and seven blog posts per week. Not all of them will score......but some will! The secret is having the courage to keep showing up each day. Shot, after shot, after shot. Some will miss, but some will result in a glorious goal!
Don't lose hope when your shots aren't going into the net. Rather, know it's just the frustrating process of creating impact. Your purpose is far too great to let a couple of missed shots take you out of the game. Keep going…..you got this!
BING!