Today’s post in the Life Changers Series comes from Ellory Wells. Ellory blogs about leadership and personal development on his blog, Empoweringthe80Percent. He also coaches people on how to achieve their goals in life, and is passionate about helping others succeed.Ellory loves video games, playing golf, and spending time with his wife. You can connect with Ellory on Facebook, LinkedIn, or Twitter.
My life changing moment came years ago whenever my manager wouldn’t answer a question for me. I kept going to and asking him, “What should I do with this? What should I do? What should I do?”
I felt rather dejected in the moment, but that rejection, and his refusal to answer my question, changed the course of my career and my life. This was one of my life changing moments because his short, abrupt words of, “Go figure it out!” told me, “Ellory, you can do this yourself.”
Several years ago, I was faced with a question. I thought I knew the answer, but wanted either affirmation, confirmation, or both. So, I went in search for an answer.
The first person I hoped to ask was my partner in the business deal. He’d been in the business for longer than me, and we both had skin in the game, so I wanted to get his advice on the matter. Unfortunately, his phone went to voicemail.
I waited an hour and called him back. Voicemail.
So, I moved on. The second person I decided to check in with was my boss. I tracked him down, explained the situation, and asked, “What should I do?”
After dodging my question multiple times, I finally took the hint, went back to my desk, and did what I thought I should have done three hours ago.
Now, I consider myself a pretty smart guy. I’ve had many successes and several achievements in my life. So why was I sitting here asking someone else for permission to take charge and succeed?
I started to wonder, if I could do it by myself, if I can make a decision on my own, and implement a solution on my own, why was I asking permission?
While this is one example, at one time, with one person, at one job, I believe that it applies to you in your world and at whatever we’re doing.
In your own life what is it that you have the power to do, but are waiting for someone else to give you permission?
I hope you realize that you have all the power you need in order to do something different. You already have what it takes to make a change. You don’t need permission.
In my story, after being told to “Go figure it out,” I started to take control over my own successes. I started implementing my ideas on my own, and, instead of asking permission, I updated my partner and my boss on the results. After I realized that I was empowered to win, I became unstoppable.
A year later, I was awarded the Sales Rep of the Year. Out of 150 people in my department, which does $2 Billion a year in revenue, I was recognized as being “the best.”
Was I actually better than everyone else was? Maybe. However, I think it had more to do with the fact that I took ownership of my success, made the decision to take control over my thoughts and behaviors, and went after my goals. I realized that I didn’t need permission to succeed. I saw what I wanted and went after it. The award was simply the world affirming what I already knew – that only I stood in my way of success. I didn’t need permission.
Change Your Day
Don’t wait to be told you can, or should, change your thoughts, habits or behaviors. Your habits and the thoughts you have today will directly affect the results of tomorrow. Don’t know where to start? Change your day by going to bed thirty minutes earlier tonight and getting up an hour earlier tomorrow to work toward your goals.
Change Your Week
You have fifty-two weeks in a year. If you wait to change until next week, you’ve already given up 4% of your year. All of a sudden, you look up and six months have gone by. If you get up an hour earlier each day this week, you’ve got, you guessed it, seven more hours of productivity added to achieving your goals.
Change Your Life
As Jeff Olson described in his book, The Slight Edge, small changes lead to big results. If you get up an hour earlier each day for a year, you will have over 21,000 minutes of added productivity, reading, listening, or goal setting that you didn’t have before. You don’t start on the finish line; you start where you are (TWEET THAT!) You don’t need anyone to give you permission. You don’t even have to ask.
Thanks, Ellory, for reminding me that I have the power to change my life. I’m in the middle of making some important decisions and this is a good reminder.
You’re welcome Drew. I didn’t want to hear “Go figure it out!” at the time, but looking back, it was the best thing for me. Drew, you can figure it out! Good luck!
I got the same out of this post Drew! Thanks for sharing
I love how you break down stats in some of your posts, Ellory. It adds realistic reason to get and remain motivated. Great post overall. I don’t struggle with indecision as much as I used to, but my daughter is going through a stage where she asks me what she should do about everything. I keep telling her to make her own decisions. I hope it works.
Good luck with that one Dan! Being decisive is definitely a skill we have to develop over time. Thank you for commenting!
I really like that about Ellory’s approach as well!
Hi Ellory. What I find is that those moments of frustration when no one seems to be giving direction are when the best leadership moments occur. Those are really God’s way of giving you opportunity to find your own way and leave a trail for others. Great post!
Thank you Bryan! I agree. The ability to cut through confusion and get right to the heart of a matter is definitely rare and worth developing. I think too many people may be waiting too long for someone to give them the nudge they could give themselves. Thank you for commenting!
So true Bryan – in these moments we grow and learn like no other time!
Some times the only thing we can do is to make the best decision we can make with the facts at hand. It means taking action on our dreams and not waiting for permission or someone to tell us to go. I’ve learned many people wait or don’t make decisions so if we can learn and do that we can be above the crowd.
Great post!
Dan, I feel like your comments come at the weirdest hours, then I remember you live on the West coast.
I read once that we should make decisions when we have only 75-80% of the information needed, that we should trust our gut and our intuition the other 20-25%.
Now, that takes a well developed bit of intuition, but what do you think about that?
Ha, that’s funny. That’s how we do it in San Diego!
Trusting our gut is so important. Our gut usually leads us toward the right path. I think those states some correct (From first glance).
Have either of you read Blink by Malcom Gladwell? it’s all about “thinking without thinking” and how our “gut” is based on my facts than we often realize.
I haven’t read “Blink” but it sounds similar to “Outliers” which I have read.
I’ve read all of Malcolm’s books and have really enjoyed them. Both are good and worth reading/rereading.
This is what I had to get over when I started my blog and side business. I had to realized I was empowered to take a risk – and haven’t looked back since. Great post!
You have done a great job at this Tom!