Dr. Kenney’s Friday 5 Spot
On Fridays I like to share experiences I’ve had during the week with patients and in my personal life that I’ve found significant. I like to share them in hopes that you might find value in them and have something resonate with you in your life.
An analogy I like. With the election being this week and the cycle running full throttle for months, I’m asked/told quite often about politics. I’ve always felt this has nothing to do with my job, so I don’t engage all that much. However, what I am comfortable telling people is that what I want in a political candidate (or any leader really) is similar to what I would want in a football coach.
I gravitate towards someone that utilizes sound game planning, puts people in a position to utilize their abilities. and is not afraid to ask more of their players. They seek a greater standard than already exists and understand in detail the challenges standing in the way of the goals of the team. That sort of knowledge will require vast preparation which I also feel is crucial. Being cool under pressure is also a requisite because unexpected things will happen, and they become worse with panic and indecision. Whether in politics, football, business, or anything else; I prefer to have a strong personality that tells it how it is and challenges the status quo rather than someone that tells me what makes me feel comfortable.
Something I believe. I know many people that live in fear of encountering germs. They worry about catching colds, flu, and/or various viral or bacterial conditions. I have not been sick in decades even while regularly being around those who are, so this is never a concern for me. However, I am extremely conscious of who I surround myself with and their behavior because I believe that can be extremely contagious. Let me explain.
If you are around someone that is energetic, driven, upbeat, successful, and happy; you begin to seek those things more for yourself. Almost by osmosis, you start seeking elevated standards, elevate your goals, and adopt a thriving mindset. This is a remarkable thing and should always be pursued. Unfortunately, it is far easier to encounter the reverse of this. We get around people that mope, complain, tell the same tired stories of woe, and more. When we are with these types of folks enough, we begin to lose our drive, average becomes acceptable, and we often resent those doing better than us. The point is that the words, behaviors, actions, and viewpoints of those you encounter most can be highly contagious. Therefore, try your best to surround yourselves with the healthiest people possible, it can literally improve the quality of your life.
A great reminder. Last week, my oldest son played what we believed to be his final varsity football game. It was on Halloween night, the crowd was sparse, energy was low, and it ended in blowout loss. It felt like such an unceremonious end for my son and his friends who’d put in so much effort over the past four years. Two days later, however, we were excited to find out that they had earned one of the last playoff spots and would play at least one more game. This was amazing and reminded me of something important.
In life, one of the greatest things we can receive is another chance. This does not necessarily mean that we end up victorious, simply that we can go out in a manner more indicative of who we are and how much we care. We receive the blessing of being able to right a wrong, go out on our shield rather than meekly, and/or finish in a manner with which we can live. In the samurai culture, they would refer to this as “earning a good death” and I believe wholeheartedly in it. My son’s team is unlikely to end up winning a state championship, but they were granted the chance to go out gloriously in battle rather than how it ended for them last week. That alone is a gift of immeasurable value. I’ve had this happen to me after some of my own failures and was reminded of how amazing it can be.
A great lesson I’ve learned. For any business to succeed, it will require enough customers, sales, and income. Without those areas being where they should, you are slowly (or even rapidly) going out of business. One of the most common mistakes businesses make is to wait until things become dire before they start focusing properly on growth. In other words, they become complacent that things are “fine” or “ok” but don’t focus on making them great until they realize the business is in trouble. Human beings often behave in a similar fashion.
We often don’t worry about our relationships until they’re broken, our bodies till they’re badly hurting or out of shape, or mental health until we feel overwhelmed and lost. Much like a business, if we are not proactively addressing these areas, we are inching closer to the certainty of a bad result. Therefore, it is crucial to outline what matters most to you in your life and take consistent, daily steps to improve it. Personally, I make sure to prioritize my family, my business, exercise, proper nutrition, good sleep, time to think, reading, and a bit of time to unwind. The best time to make a business stronger is not once it becomes weak; it is when things are going well. Your life, body, and mind all operate the exact same way.
Some quotes I Love.
“Weak men blame the world. Strong men realize the world doesn’t even care.”
“A dad’s greatest fear isn’t dying. It’s leaving his kids in a world that won’t protect or understand them.”
“You will never win if you never begin.” – Robert H. Schuller