Today is October 2nd which to many may seem like just another fall day to go to work. But on October 2, 1996, at age 25, Lance Armstrong was diagnosed with stage three testicular cancer. The cancer had spread to his lungs, abdomen, and brain. This was the day that changed Lance's life. It was the day that he dedicated his life to Livestrong. This was a choice - a mindset choice - and look now at all of the people, with and without cancer, that his movement has touched.
This past year has been a really tough year for many of you (and me). This recession has been like a cancer in many ways as it has spread from one sector to another, and from one day of bad news to the next. The question is, what will be your Livestrong moment? What will be the day you made a choice to change your Mindset and to focus forward rather than backward? Have you already made it? Do you remember when it was? How will you celebrate it in the future?
These watershed moments that lead to real lasting change must be recognized, celebrated, and appreciated because they have the potential to not only change your life but also impact many other lives. The great thing about a Mindset is that it is a product of your choices. Do you choose to focus on the past? Do you choose to focus on your weaknesses or the things you can't do? Do you embrace drama as a way to deflect real engagement? If these are your choices then high performance will never happen. But if at your toughest moment you decide to become a Swimmer, to make a difference, and to never give up on yourself, your family and your team, who knows where you can be in a year, 5 years, or 10 years.
What Lance did was, and is, amazing. But today, October 2nd, is your day to make your choice whether you want to Sink, Float, or Swim. If you decide to focus on the future, to focus on your strengths and the things you CAN do, and to refuse to accept drama for the sake of avoiding the truth, then who knows what legacy you may leave.
Let me know what you think.
by Scott Peltin Founder & Chief Performance Officer
TIGNUM Institute for Sustainable High Performance
For me it was the day I quit my job and went out on my own. No more excuses, no more limitations, no more unplanned moves, and no more telling someone that this is the order from above. That was the day that I recreated myself, focused on my strengths, and started selling me. Great day.
Posted by: SteveO | October 11, 2009 at 09:30 PM
This is one of the most powerful blogs I have read on the web. It really provoked me to reflect. I not only discovered my Livestrong moment but I recommitted to my own goal and I am reinspired. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
Posted by: Pieter Giovani | October 11, 2009 at 07:35 PM