Recognizing Your Best Next Step
I approached the blue and green courts as the warm Texas sun started its decent for the day. Carefully opening the fence, I peered to my left at the couples playing on the other court. One woman in her mid twenties and a man in his late fifties moved their paddles quickly against their two male, mid-twenty year-old opponents. I slowed my walk towards the open court, turning my head slightly sideways to continue observing their playing. The guys skillfully curved the ball to barely place it over the net, as the woman and her partner lunged forward to easily snap the ball back. Back and forth they went, changing the pace and placement of the ball, attempting to catch their opponents off guard. Wow, they’re really good, I thought, smiling to myself.
After taking mental notes of their strategies and techniques, I turned around to grab my paddle from the bench where my friends had placed our equipment. We warmed up by dinking the wiffle-like ball back and forth, and my patience towards my abilities abruptly declined. That night, I spent the majority of our pickleball session frustrated at the gap between my skills and the couples’.
Whether it’s pickleball, creating a business, or another endeavor, we admire work produced by people that have spent significantly more time in that space. Although people’s accomplishments are an effective guide for our own endeavors, we readily diminish the significance of our progress when fixating on where we’ve fallen short. Thus, we spend much of our energy circling in disappointment instead of visualizing how we may proceed. How do we continue appreciating and drawing upon the successes of other people who are many steps ahead, while still being aware of and motivated for our best next step?
The answer begins with accepting where we’re at. Do your thoughts show that you’re okay with the progress you’ve made thus far towards the things that are important to you? We may not be satisfied with where we are, but we can only move forward once we embrace the reality in which we are in.
Through the expertise of seasoned coaches and productivity techniques, these prompts will increase your motivation and clarity towards your best next step in your goal:
Draw from your experiences
Reflect on a few moments where you felt energized and capable. What were you doing and who were you around? Create a mental or physical list of those experiences and the skills you were using that made you feel qualified.
Notice where you’re spending your time
Look at the amount of time you’re learning from or observing others’ successes versus how much time you spend working towards your own goals. Ask yourself, do I actually value enhancing my abilities with my time or do I value others’ skills more?
Listen to people that are close to you
Let other people tell you how your strengths have benefitted them. Listen to them, and be confident that you are benefitting people currently.
Set aside undistracted time
Instead of worrying about how much work you have to get done, start with one task and keep working forward. And while doing these things, avoid looking at or hearing from the people that cause you to question what you have to offer.
