Gretzky: Take the Shot

“You will miss 100% of the shots you never take.” – Wayne Gretzky

This week I really want to throw this post out to you. I want to understand what thing(s) you have done that seemed like an absolute “failure” or misstep at the time. In retrospect was this thing as big a monster failure as you thought? Did it lead you in a different direction that put you right on path for where you want to be now, or was it a missed shot that brought you closer to your goal? I want to hear your comments on this.

In actuality, this is an issue of embracing two P’s— positioning and perspective.

As marketers (for ourselves if not business purposes), positioning requires making constant adjustments. Which means, taking an endless number of shots and fine tuning until you hit the sweet spot. Knowing the goal is key; otherwise you end up shooting at air. Sometimes, you shoot and miss the target by a long shot. When all is said and done though, the stats chart your attempts just as much as they credit your successes, right? We bank on the fact that that trial and error leads to greater successes over time.

As people, perspective drives us forward when we otherwise feel our efforts might have been in vain.

My intention for this post is not to restate the obvious; it is to entreat people to share stories that reveal potentially life-changing shifts in perspective that lead to a repositioning which may have brought you to exactly the place you never knew you wanted to be.

Go ahead: let me know what that event was and where it landed you!