'Winners are trackers; they always know the score.' - Darren Hardy in Compound Effect.
I read that quote over a decade ago, and it resonated with me because I have always been a tracker. I count most things. I don't have obsessive-compulsive disorder, and I don't know if it means I'm a winner, but it helps me to know how far I've come and how far I still have to go. Over the past three years, I've applied it to reading books. I read 36 books in 2020, 44 in 2021, 63 in 2022, and as of mid-July of 2023, I have read 41 books. I developed a system for tracking what I was reading, and the whole process took on a life of its own, leading to a voracious reading habit. I felt good about my status as a voracious reader.
And then I met Tom.
Tom was introduced at a meeting I was attending. The individual introducing Tom declared him a 'voracious reader' and asked Tom how many books he had read in the first 6.5 months of 2023.
'138'
Tom had read more than triple the number of books I had, but Tom wasn't finished. He pointed to another man in the back of the room and told us that his friend had read 190 books since January 2023. My understanding of a voracious reading habit had been incinerated. My measly 41 books were kindergarten-level phonics compared to those two.
'But, Chris! Comparison is the thief of joy.'
Yes. I know. Yet, a little comparison slips into any tracking efforts. Mostly, I was tracking against myself from previous years, but when someone talks about how many books they've read, I can compare because I know how many I've read. The more significant problem was I was not ready for what I would learn through that comparison. It was a jaw-dropping reality check. We all need a good reality check more often than we actually get them. Legendary coach Mike Krzyzewski (Coach K) says, 'If what you accomplished yesterday still looks big today, you haven't done much today.' Reality check. In his book ' Think Again ', famed social science researcher Adam Grant says, '20 year-olds that are most convinced about their career path have the deepest regrets at 30 because they haven't done enough rethinking along the way.' Reality Check. Ernest Hemingway once quipped, 'You can't get away from yourself by moving to a new place. You always seem to come along.' Reality check.
I've thought about my recent reality check in that meeting, and here are five reality checks we all need to be prepared to encounter. These are not meant to encourage you but are not meant to discourage you. They are meant to keep you grounded as you pursue your growth.
REALITY CHECK #1 You have forgotten how big the world is when you are overly impressed with yourself. My father was my high school basketball coach, often taking me to scout opponents or see high-profile games in the area. Occasionally, we would see an incredibly talented player we had never heard of, and my dad would say, 'It's a big world out there, son.'
REALITY CHECK #2 There is always a bigger fish out there. The sports world was convinced that no one would be a more incredible quarterback than Joe Montana. And then Tom Brady arrived. Joe who? Reggie Miller was the greatest three-point shooter ever. And then there was Ray Allen, who Steph Curry quickly replaced. Some of you might not even know who Reggie and Ray are. Never say, 'that record will never be broken' because records were made to be broken. They will all fall eventually. There's always a bigger fish out there.
REALITY CHECK #3 That bigger fish is always closer than you think it is. My jaw fell open when Tom said, '138'. He was just a random guy in a meeting I attended at a random church in Houston. If some world leader far removed from me had said, '138', it wouldn't have stunned me as bad. It was the fact that a bigger fish was just hanging out in the back of a meeting I was attending. None of us has a monopoly on anything.
REALITY CHECK #4 Don't shy away from big fish; try to swim with them. This is where comparison becomes an ally. Too often, when we get a reality check, we make excuses or retreat to swim with fish we know we measure up well with. DO NOT DO THIS. I had the privilege of coaching high school cross country this fall. Do you know when my runners set incredible personal records? When they ran against faster runners. Swimming with big fish makes you swim as fast as possible, and we all underestimate how fast we can swim. *you're keeping up with the analogies, right?*
REALITY CHECK #5 Stay humble, or you will be humbled. C.S. Lewis has a great quote about pride. 'Pride is not wanting a lot. It's wanting more than the other person.' Reality checks have a way of uncovering pride or passion for growth. If you maintain humility, a reality check is a healthy experience as it challenges you to a new standard. If you are prideful, a reality check will send you retreating to your comfort zone. Be careful in your comfort zone. Nothing ever grows there.
‘Bite Down and Don’t Let Go’ is a collection of writings on being intentional about life in a way that produces great persistence. Read about it more here.
Dr. Chris Hobbs is an educational leader with more than two decades of experience. He’s earned a few degrees and won some awards. He’s happily married to his high school sweetheart, and they have three children. Life is messy and complicated most of the time. You can follow him on Twitter for inspirational thoughts and good laughs.
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