Some people want it to happen, some wish it would happen, and others make it happen. –Michael Jordan

It was a slow, summer Friday night a few years ago, and I was just settling in with a giant glass of bourbon.  Er, I mean reading a good book.  Suddenly a buddy called from out of the blue.

“Hey, you up for seeing a band downtown tonight?”

My wife was asleep and the kids were all out with friends.  Maybe.

“What’s the name of the band?”

“DEER TICK!”

Hmmm.

I had never heard of them but it piqued my morbid curiosity.  Why not!

As we drove down, we listened to a few of their tunes to get more familiar with the music.  There was one song in particular that stood out above the rest.  Dirty Dishes.  It was a super catchy tune and we couldn’t wait to hear it live.

We finally arrived at the venue, and Deer Tick did not disappoint.  They brought a lot of energy and built a great rapport with the crowd.  As the show rolled on, the excitement built for their rendition of Dirty Dishes.  The crowd clamored for it.  Deer Tick teased the opening guitar riff a few times, before pivoting to another song.  Finally, with the crowd chanting for it, Deer Tick unleashed their runaway hit on the audience.

And it was magical.  The lead singer belted out the lyrics.  The lead guitarist jumped into the mosh pit.  The drummer was a blur of cacophonous motion.  It was one of those rare moments when the actual performance outshined the anticipation.  Deer Tick absolutley CRUSHED Dirty Dishes! And when the song finally ended, the crowd was frozen in awe.  I turned to my buddy who was staring straight ahead toward the stage.

 “That’s how you get it done right there!”

It was indeed.  And don’t we all need that same level of execution and enthusiasm in our everyday lives.

We Have to Know Our Role

We all have certain unique talents and capabilities.  Perhaps we have excellent presentation skills.  Perhaps we have a knack for telling stories.  Perhaps we have exceptional analytical capabilities.  Perhaps we thrive on making connections.  We soon realize that these talents become our currency.  In a team environment, these skills meaningfully contribute to the overall success of the organization.  The stakes are high.  We have to know our role.  And we have to maximize our contribution and deliver.

So what are we going to do?  We can’t phone in our performance.  We can’t expect someone else to step in and save the day.  We can’t daydream about making a difference.  We have to make it happen.  And the only way to do that is through action.  We have to be intentional.  We have to recognize the importance of our contribution.  And then we have to put every bit of effort into executing on our goals.  Not just one time.  But every time.  That’s how we make a difference in our corner of the world.  That’s how we live up to our potential.  That’s how we get it done right there!

People Are Counting On Us

But what happens when we give everything and lay an egg on our delivery?  Effort and intentionality do not always translate to success.  Sometimes our timing is off.  Sometimes the external environment is not conducive to success.  Sometimes the odds are stacked against us.  We can’t expect to deliver an epic performance every time as the outcomes are not always within our control.

But as long as we take our role seriously, and put in the work, we will be able to bounce back.  As long as we remain active and keep sharpening our skills, we will eventually win.  As long as keep believing in ourselves and moving forward, we cannot lose.  Long-term success is not about winning every time.  It’s about preparing to win every time.  It’s about focusing on what we do best.  And it’s about maintaining a positive attitude with each and every performance.

The bottom line is we have people counting on us.  Nothing is done in a vacuum and our actions matter.  Every great team has to have players who understand their role and take it seriously.  Sometimes, we’re the lead singer.  Sometimes, our highest and best use is backup percussion.  It is not about the size of the role.  It is about the impact of the role.

So all we can do is keep going out there and wearing our heart on our sleeve.  Keep exerting maximum effort.  Keep striving to deliver the performance of a lifetime.

That’s how you get it done right there!