We have all been there: You have that one project or presentation or report or whatever that is looming overhead that seems like it is the most important thing that you’ve ever had to do. You don’t know whether or not you are going to be able to deliver the project or presentation or report or whatever on time. And to top it all off, you feel like your entire career hangs in the balance. If you screw this up, the world might actually end! So you get completely consumed by how big and daunting and scary it could be to the point that you are not sleeping or eating properly and you start lashing out at everyone around you…
Or maybe that’s just me.
You see, in the past few months, I allowed myself to become completely consumed with one big event – 1KV. In fact, I was so consumed by it that I kind of lost myself in it for a while. I gave it every bit of physical and emotional energy I had. I was drowning and pulling everyone around me down with me.
But last week, the main event was postponed until who-knows-when because of forces beyond my control. I was devastated…for a while anyway. But now, I’m ridiculously grateful. This is going to allow the 1KV team time to rethink our entire strategy and restart fresh. And more importantly, it’s given ME the reminder to take a breath, reboot, and start again…
When facing a major task or event like this, it’s vital that you pull back and get a little perspective on the situation. Said another way, make sure you are looking at the whole forest, not just this one big ass tree.
99% of the time, even though this next big thing is super-duper important, but not a career maker/breaker. Think about how it fits into the bigger picture. Then decide that the emotional turmoil that you are bringing to the party is unwelcome. Seriously people. It helps nobody…and it’s doing you no good whatsoever.
Once you have a grip on reality again that this task is not the end-all-be-all task, zoom back in and make it happen. If you worry about a loss-of-perspective-relapse, enlist the help of someone who will keep you on track. Remember that while this is huge right now, the next huge thing is just around the corner. This is an opportunity to get better at managing your perspective and making amazing things happen. Go forth!
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