Today: Throw A Dart

Oh the pressure. Get it right, don't mess up. Hold the dart right, don't flinch or loose your grip. Make sure you aim just perfect and hit the bulls eye.

Don't you remember playing darts as a kid. In my house we ended up with more holes in the wall around the dartboard that on the board. We eventually learned to toss more accurately, but even then, the bulls eye was still the ultimate challenge.

What we learned, however, was that you can score and win in other ways, not just by hitting the bulls eye. The outer ring, the inner ring and the various colors mean something and give you points. They are important as well.

In business we often get stuck standing there, holding the dart in our hands, feeling the pressure of our colleagues breathing down our neck, the aggravation of that one heckler from across the room and your internal voice telling you, "there is no way in hell this dart is going in that little bulls eye". You freeze, get tense and end up tossing a dart at the light fixture above the board. You hear your uncle Joe, in the back of your head, saying, "boy, you couldn't hit the broadside of a barn". Like that ever helps. (haha)

What if we change the game? What if your job as leaders in our business or work team is to step up, aim and throw, the virtue being found in the THROWING??

I think there is something to be said about action. Not random and careless action. I mean, don't turn and throw the dart at the boss you don't like, but by all means man, aim at some spot on the board that gets you points and throw it. Getting points today is better than maybe getting more points tomorrow.

Investment managers till us we need "time in the market" more than anything. They understand there is a cost to waiting and a cost to acting. Act wisely today and reap more benefits than waiting for the lottery tomorrow.

I tell my daughters who love to sing, just get in front of people and sing. Sing the National Anthem if that is all they will ask you to do. Sing something. What am I saying.

THROW A DART, TODAY!!!!

Case study after case study about business and organizational growth tells us that action, with a learning spirit and team approach, along with unrelenting hard work, are more important that the perfect strategy, model or plan. Those who take action win. Those who don't give up win. Those who build teams who take action win.

Today, just by taking action and scoring points, some points, you will put yourself ahead of your competition who are trying to figure out the perfect form to hit the perfect bulls eye. Your clients and customers need action not perfect. So, today....

TODAY, THROW A DART!!!!

Billy Ramsdell