Are YOU in the game?

As I watched the football game from the stands, my attention wasn’t on the game but on the sidelines. My youngest daughter had realized one of her dreams of being an NFL Cheerleader, first lady of football as they are called. The cheerleaders excite the crowd and root for the team, although the real lovers of the game weren’t watching the cheerleaders, they were following the game. And the real players were on the field with the ball and the action.

It reminded me of our lives, our careers, and our businesses. It reminded me of how important cheerleaders are in our lives, both personally and professionally, but the importance of remembering they are not on the field in the game but on the sidelines.

Many of us live our lives as cheerleaders. We cheer everyone else on but refuse to get in the game ourselves.

Of course, there is a time that we should all be cheerleaders to other people but not at the expense of sitting on the sidelines watching life go by. We definitely have a problem when we confuse those who are cheerleaders with those who are supposed to be in the game with us. There were times in my business when I clearly had this issue, and it caused my business not to operate at maximum effectiveness. The cheerleaders were great and encouraging, but I made a crucial mistake. I took them from the sidelines into my inner circle. Cheerleaders are always meant to cheer from a distance. We teach our children how to walk from a distance. As my ego became well fed, the essential elements that I needed in my business went lacking. The people whom I needed to challenge me, to complement my skill set, to correct me, were missing. The people I needed to say, “Why aren’t you going after that contract? What are the numbers? That seems inconsistent with your vision,” were all missing.

Can it get worse? Oh, yes it can.

It is worse when you become the smartest person in the room, and everyone else are cheerleaders. You begin to believe your own hype.

Well, my friend, as I intentionally began to invest in myself with people who were critical to my success – the mentors, coaches, teachers, counselors, those who had gone farther and faster – I found myself changing rooms. I am no longer the smartest person in the room, and it feels good. My business has experienced exponential growth. You see, my business could only grow in proportion to my growth as an individual. You will always be smarter than someone, and someone will always be smarter than you.

Make sure you are in a room with people who challenge you.

As you go into 2015, ask yourself:

(1) Am I in the room with people essential to my growth?
(2) What people in my life hold me accountable for what I say I want to do?
(3) Am I in the right room?
(4) Am I just comfortable?

Being in the right room causes you to ask great questions. If you don’t know what questions to ask or how to get into another room, you may want to click here. As for me, I’m changing rooms again in 2015.