You can't win today’s game on yesterday’s press clippings

"What you did yesterday is history. What you promise for tomorrow is mystery. What you can deliver today is reality." - Anand P. Shah.

"Your successful path will block your vision to the future" - Joel A Barker.

 

Storyline:

A few years ago, a fellow approached a good friend to take advice about his work situation. Noticing that his job performance was declining, his supervisor had a friendly talk with him.

Now this fellow was very bright, carried credentials from well-known institutions and he had been a strong contributor and a star performer in the past. He was not pleased with his supervisor’s feedback and needed some advice.

He told his good friend about many awards that he had received in the years past, his numerous publications in journals, and plenty of speeches he had given at various conferences. He went on to emphasize that only a day before, he had seen a slide in someone’s presentation that referenced the great work he did in the year 1999.

His good friend told him, “You already got paid for what you did in the year 1999. We are now in 2004, the next millennium. What have you done for your business lately?”

Good Friend continued, “What you did yesterday is history. What you promise for tomorrow is mystery. What you can deliver today is reality. You can not win today’s game on yesterday’s press clippings.”

The fellow became silent. He got the message. After that talk, his performance improved significantly.

 

Reflection:

We are in a dynamic and competitive world. Things are changing at such a rapid pace that the moment you let up, you fall behind. In today’s world there are many people with drive, ambition and the right skills who are waiting for an opportunity. If you do not step up to the plate, somebody else will.

Some people feel that they have “Paid Their Dues” with past success and the others owe them something in return. In reality, no one owes anything to us. Only we owe it to ourselves to plan on growing and succeeding.

Never Rest on your laurels. Keep challenging yourself. Keep raising the bar and keep reaching new heights.

Comments

[Andrew]

How true? Let us say I bought a house or got something fixed. I am happy with the service. But once I alreaady pay for it, I don't expect the seller/contractor to ask for more money. Job is done and you are paid. That is it folks.

[Karen]

Thanks for weekly inspirations. This story is worth pondering. So often we take things for granted and rest of our laurels. We forget that the company has already paid for what we did for them. Only thing they owe is our last paycheck. It is all business. We have to keep growing and increse our worth.

[Anonymous]

Good story on Seth's blog about the tendency for people to coast when they are comfortable:
http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2007/06/most-and-least.html

"You've seen this in countless organizations. A few people get in the habit of least, then a whole department does, and the next thing you know, it's an entire airline. Least is contagious."

[PV]

"Your successful path will block your vision to the future."\
This quote is by Joel Barker not Peter Drucker.