I am the greatest, I said that even before I knew I was. Muhammad Ali.
When we read a quote like that one, most of us just roll our eyes. After all, many athletes today brag on their greatness, “guarantee” victory, or simply carry themselves like they belong in another stratosphere. But before all of them, there was Muhammad Ali.
I know some of my readers, like me, are old enough to remember Ali in his prime, when he took on all comers. I think about Ali this while watching the NBA All-Star Slam Dunk contest, the MLB Home Run Derby, and some of the athletes at the NFL Combine. Most of these contests never seems to have the league superstars in it. Most of them opt out. It seems nobody wants to prove their talent, choosing instead to let their reputation carry them. It’s almost as if they’re afraid somebody may come along and actually defeat them.
Almost once a year, I face a hostile or challenging audience in a workshop. It causes me to pause, rethink my strategy, and work some tough magic to bring them back. While it’s a tough challenge and stresses me out, it also reminds me that I always need to compete, to push myself lest I fall into the trap of complacency. I always leave a session like that feeling a renewed sense of energy and personal growth. I like to think my audience feels the same.
What about you? Do you profess greatness only to duck away from a challenge or fierce competition?
Many years ago, I worked for a trade association where one of our members, an insurance provider, took great pride in his standing as a member. He could do this since his company provided a huge revenue stream each year as a result of his exclusive arrangement to provide services to members. When we had our Annual Conferences, he would always put up a fuss if we allowed his competitors to exhibit, and God forbid we ever allow them to put up their pop-up displays near his. I always wondered…if he was a good as he said he was, why wouldn’t he want his competitors to be placed right next to him so he could easily compare his services to theirs? Why would he fear competition? As it happens, his arrangement eventually ended and I haven’t heard much from him since.
This week, let’s all take a hard look at the last time we really proved our worth. If it’s been awhile, why not look for a challenging opportunity where the stakes are really high. The kind of opportunity where failure could really hurt, but winning could increase our value, reputation, and marketability. I won’t suggest you brag a-la Muhammad Ali, but just knowing you are the greatest can certainly boost your morale!