Play: The Secret to Motivation and Business Success
“I'm sorry, but you may never walk again.”
Chase was a just a regular 20-something guy who happened to trip and fall in his bathroom.
The next thing he knew, he was paralyzed from the neck down.
Chances of recovery were slim.
But Chase wasn't going to give up.
After weeks of concentration, he found that he was able to move the tip of his finger a teeny little bit. Just a wee flutter in his middle finger.
So what did he do?
Instead of aiming for walking again, he decided to focus on being able to flip the bird at people.
(Cue inspirational music…?)
He enrolled his playfulness & his tenacity –and after weeks of sweat-inducing, strenuous work, he did it.
Inspiration indeed.
From that moment on, he gave the bird constantly.
He flipped off his nurses, doctors, and physical therapists. Same with friends and family members. Cleaning staff and candy stripers got the bird every time they passed his hospital room.
And everyone would laugh or cheer (or shed a happy tear) in response.
But he didn't stop there.
As his movement progressed, someone in his group of guy friends provided another milestone to reach:
“If you can get strong enough to kick me in the nuts, I'll totally let you do it, bro.”
Well, that was just the inspiration Chase needed.
He worked constantly and bravely with his physical therapists (cue inspirational music again) until eventually…
Finally….
He was able to kick his buddy in the giblets.
The friend yelled with both joy and pain while he writhed on the floor.
In the process of reaching this landmark accomplishment, Chase had regained his ability to walk!
(That's true friendship).
And that's sometimes how motivation works.
Yes, find the tiniest possible step to move forward, but also:
Find the fun.
Whether that's:
a sense of deep purpose,
a jolt of playfulness and humor, or
whatever weird (or irreverent) angle gets you moving.
What's a next step you're working on in your business?
How can you shrink it into a baby step, and infuse a little fun into the process?
Flip me the bird er, hit reply and tell me about it.
p.s. With the Olympics still going. So many inspiring stories! I keep thinking of Wilma Rudolph, born one of 22 children, paralyzed from polio, who went on to win 3 Olympic gold medals for sprinting in 1960. I hope you'll let yourself be inspired this summer, and see that anything is possible for you.
p.s. Want to know how business coaching may take your business to (metaphorically) kicking cajones? Schedule a Clarity Call today, or join the Interest List for the Mighty Mastermind.