Load or Lift? Where Should My Focus Be?

On October 12, 2012 Toyota’s full size unmodified Tundra rated to tow 10,000lbs achieved the unmatched feat of towing the 150,000lb gargantuan space shuttle The Endeavor over a bridge in Los Angeles, California. You can see the video on YouTube by clicking this link https://youtu.be/3weSO1I5hrE. The disparity in size and weight alone makes such an accomplishment appear impossible.

There are days when it seems we have to pull a shuttle load of duties, tasks, and responsibilities and we wonder if we have what it takes to get it done. We endeavor to multitask and give our best to everything often to the detriment of our own well-being. When we ask questions like, “Can I handle this?” or Will I be able to accomplish this?” we are most probably comparing the load (responsibility) to our lift (capability). Much like the Toyota Tundra, we look inadequate to the task at hand. The weight of the load can be a valid reason to quit but by changing our focus from the load to the lift we end up discovering that we do have what it takes to successfully complete the tasks. It’s not how the Tundra looked on the outside, but rather what it had on the inside (5.7-liter, V8 capable of producing 381 horsepower) that made the goal actualize. If you have a dream, idea or a goal that seems too overwhelming don’t pass it over for an easier one. Instead, build your lift to match the load.

How do you do this?

1. Find others who have accomplished what you are aiming to do and network with them. In today’s world, collaboration not control is the key to success. Technology has shrunk our world immensely that connecting is easier than ever. Be brave and reach out. Read their books, go to gatherings like conferences, workshops and seminars, or make a connection on social channels. Networking will help you build valuable relationships and show you that what you want to do is possible. Networking also provides the building blocks you need not only to start but to sustain your progress.
2. Consider the barriers that might stand in your way and analyze them. Writing down barriers is not counterproductive but rather it is a way to anticipate what may happen and the possible ways to handle them. It makes you better prepared and improves your system of operation. As you get better in preparing for problems, you react less to everything that happens and the better your response time becomes. You can see problems while they are small similar to the weather man who gives the forecast allowing us time to prepare for storms. Anticipating problems allows you to see possibilities which is a key performance indicator when it comes to problem-solving. As a side note, people who are good at anticipating problems and providing solutions are usually the most valuable.
3. Picture what it would look like to complete the task that seems overwhelming now. Pictures carry more weight than just words. When someone tells of a place they have been to and send an accompaniment of pictures, it becomes embedded in our minds. People often ask, “Where do you see yourself in three to five years?” A picture of the past creates memories but a picture of the future creates motion. You will move in the direction of what you see.
4. What is one thing you can do on a daily basis to drive closer to the reality of the goal? Is packing your lunch or making your own coffee the one thing that will drive you closer to the goal of reducing expenses and improving your financial health? This centers around the level of engagement applied continuously. You don’t need to increase activity if you focus more on quality engagement efforts that you can track and see notable movement. Find one high quality action and stick to it on a daily basis.

Final thought: The above points can be summarized as creating leverage. Leverage helps to amplify your efforts as small as they might be. When you decide to bring your A-game every day no matter the environment, that becomes your leverage to doing your best work or providing excellent service day in and day out. Creating leverage can be as simple as finding out what will add value to your business or organization and setting out to fulfill it. Creating leverage helps to form a synergistic environment where all parties involved get to win. Focus on building your lift and you can handle the load.

Keep on Keeping on!