May you live in interesting times

May you live in interesting times. Is that ancient expression a curse or a blessing? I think it depends on what you define to be “interesting” and more importantly how you adapt to it. If you define interesting to mean unpredictable, challenging and threatening – then clearly we are living in interesting times. Business these days is more like shooting the rapids in a rubber raft than canoeing in a duck pond. It’s too easy to be mesmerized by the danger of capsizing. If you focus on the rocks – that’s where you will go. The secret is to look for and steer to the high water and paddle like a fiend.

George Torok

Luck is the residue of design

“I like, and have adopted Mr. Branch Rickey’s way of looking at things. He was an old accomplished baseball executive. History knows him best for breaking the colour barrier for Jackie Robinson, in 1952. He said, “Luck is the residue of design”. Here’s the full quote.

“Things worthwhile generally don’t just happen. Luck is a fact, but should not be a factor. Good luck is what is left over after intelligence and effort have combined at their best. Negligence or indifference are usually reviewed from an unlucky seat. The law of cause and effect and causality both work the same with inexorable exactitudes. Luck is the residue of design.”

I totally agree with you and old man Rickey. We’re all lucky if WE choose!! It’s true, we make our own luck. Attitude plays a major role. I’ve worked hard to be where I am, and with out the work, luck wouldn’t matter much.

Take care,
Tom”
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Enjoy this insight from my good friend Tom on the topic of luck.

George Torok

Motivational Business Speaker

Canadian Motivational Speaker

100% Is Not the Goal

Stop trying to do and get 100%.

It’s not practical or necessary. And forget about giving 110%. That is mathematically impossible.

The real challenge for most people is getting past 30%,  40% or 60%.

Stop intimidating yourself with goals of 100 or 110%. Just move yourself to the next number on the dial.

George Torok

Canadian Motivational Speaker

Motivational Business Speaker

Failing is not failure

Not all actions are the right actions but taking some action is much healthier than not. This is a good time to “Fail Often, Fail Fast, Fail Cheap”. Try new things. Some will work, others might not.

To fail is not to be a failure, to not try is to be a failure.

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The above is an excerpt from an article by Jim Estill. The bolding is my emphasis. I think this is valuable advice for folks especially in these uncertain times when it is easy to be paralyzed by fear.

I’ve heard Jim Estill give his advice, “Fail often, fail fast and fail cheap.” If you’re not failing often enough maybe you’re not challenging yourself enough.

You can read the full article by Jim Estill titled, “Are You Galvanized or Paralyzed?” at the Canadian Marketing Blog.

You can read more thoughts from Jim Estill at his CEO Blog – Time Leadership.

George Torok

Canadian Business Speaker