Just Close Your Eyes and Floor It!
Note from the Proprietor: After last Friday’s post, Taking a Leap of Faith, my buddy Mike DeWitt mentioned he was looking to make one soon (er, a leap, not a post) regarding his career (see the comments).
Naturally, I automatically responded with my typical sage advice: “Close your eyes and floor it!” Now, although at first blush this may have come across as flippant, somewhat smart-alecky advice. But I promise you, it’s not.
Well, one thing led to another (I’m sure you know how that goes), and so I just had to write this post.
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Does Traffic Make You Nervous?
OK, some of you can probably relate to this.
Does driving in traffic on the freeway make you nervous? I mean, really nervous? I can tell you for a fact it certainly does Mrs. MZM. I guess it’s understandable, though. As a matter of fact, it’s probably far more preferable to be a little “on edge” about driving in traffic than, say, not giving a whoopee about it.
You’ve seen those guys, right? The aggressive, take-no-prisoners drivers who scare the bejeebers out of everyone around them – yet never seem to notice the mayhem they’re causing all around themselves.
Well, it used to be that when we merged into traffic that was, well, perhaps a tad heavy (as if there were any other kind on Houston roads!), Mrs. MZM would sometimes get so nervous that she’d start making ME nervous!
I’d start to see all the subtle signs: hand gripping the armrest, foot unconsciously looking for a brake pedal on the passenger side, etc. (At this point, you’re probably thinking, “Uh-huh. So what kind of driver are you, eh?” Hey, I promise Mrs. MZM would tell you I’m a pretty good one. And allow me to add, “No soup for you!”)
I used to joke with her (to try to calm her down, you know) by saying something along the lines of, “OK Honey, I’m about to merge here. So do what I do: Just close your eyes and floor it!”
I dunno; I never understood why that didn’t help. But I, er, digress.
Over the years, though, she’s finally solved the problem – and to my mind it’s actually proof that my advice was pretty good after all. Whenever we get to a dicey bit of traffic, she just closes her eyes until I’ve made our way through it. Thus, she’s calm, I’m calm, and in a matter of seconds it’s all over. Like I said, pretty good advice after all, eh?
Yep, I knew I was smart! That’s S-M-R-T; smart!
To Leap or Not to Leap; That is the Question
Anyhoo – years ago it occurred to me (sound of dull thud) that given the right circumstances, this may actually be pretty good career advice too.
See, when it comes to making a career decision, especially if it’s somewhat (or a lot) different from what you’re doing now; well, it’s easy to become sortof frozen in what is commonly referred to as “analysis paralysis”.
Trust me (he said, shaking his head sadly); I’ve been there; no doubt you’ve been there too.
Hey, don’t get me wrong. I’m not advocating jumping blindly into something about which you haven’t got a clue! If you ask me (and yes, I know you didn’t ask – but what the hey), doin’ that sort of thing on a regular basis is sorta like what Benjamin Disraeli once said: “The most dangerous strategy is to jump a chasm in two leaps.” Sooner or later the odds will even things out, if you know what I mean.
No, I’m a big advocate of getting all the facts before making a decision. Particularly if it’s a life-changing one like a big career move. After all, it’s a scary world out there; the thought of going out on a figurative (or even a real) limb can occasionally cause even the most stalwart of us to quake in fear.
The Real Challenge
But the problem usually isn’t from of a lack of information. Hey, if you’re ever unsure of anything, well, chances are someone’s already managed to not only do it, but their adventures are probably chronicled on the Internet! No, it’s not that.
See, where I think the problem usually lies is of a lack of experience. You know; it’s that ol’ “your results may vary” disclaimer that stomps through your head (and in mud-covered Army boots, no less): “Awright, Bubba; just because 1,000 people have done it before you, what makes you think you can make it 1,001?”
Hey, it’s easy to combat that particular feeling by learning everything you can about what you want to do. Talk to folks that are doing it now (there’s probably plenty of them around, and with the Internet, they’re only a few people away – remember the “Kevin Bacon” game?)
The solution is to arm yourself with knowledge. Yep, that’s the ticket. Once you have what you need to know safely locked up in the ol’ grey matter (or at least, you know where to find it), then all you need now is to get up off your duff and actually do something!
In fact, it sorta reminds me of yet another saying we had in the manufacturing business: “Sooner or later it comes time to shoot the engineers and start production.”
Get Ready; Get Set…
OK; let’s say you’ve got a particular something in mind. You’ve thought it through, and even done your homework. You’ve prepared yourself as best you can – you have the training, the skills, and maybe even the materials ready to go. You’re positive it’ll work (well, as sure as you can be), although you may not be sure how well. You may not even be sure how long it will take.
But there’s one thing that’s certain, and it’s that you really want to do it.
Well, if that is truly the case, my friend (and it is absolutely imperative that you’re being honest with yourself here!), then it’s time to get moving. Don’t waste any more time analyzing it to death – just go for it.
Sooner or later it’s going to be time to quit talking about it, climb on board that rocket-powered scooter and prove – not to the world, but to yourself - that you do indeed have what it takes.
Just Close your eyes and floor it!
24 responses so far
Middle Zone Musings is a comfortable place to stop, have a cup of coffee, swap a few stories and share practical ideas for the real world. I don't ask for much, just a bit of your brain every now and then. Have a seat, take a load off, and relax...
Great advice Bob. I love the chasm in 2 leaps quote.
I am all in favour of talking things through – hey I’m a coach so I should! But the time has to come where stopping talking and starting doing is the way forward.
And I agree that being honest with yourself that you really do want it is crucial – as it being sure that you are not doing it because somebody else said you should!
So all of the above and if you can ask the question “What’s the worst that can happen if I …” and you can live with the answer then there is no good reason ( excuse?) not to.
Jackie
Bob,
Great post! Wonderful advice, and I love the picture. Kinda reminds me of the Iowahawk Turbonique article. Go Wile E. Coyote!
Mike
Howdy, Jackie! Yeah, I loved that quote, too – really hits you between the eyes, doesn’t it?
I’m so glad you brought up that last question (“What’s the worst…”) – so I wouldn’t have to! And thanks for the great (and necessary) clarification, too: “… and you can live with the answer…”.
Great post, and great advice. =).
I think one of the biggest problems is that from young – from school and all – we’re graded in everything. And because of that, most people are really afraid to fail. And so they don’t dare to just go for it.
That kind of has to change. But yeah. Great advice, and agree with you completely.
Mike, I had no idea that ACME actually existed in the REAL world! That’s an awesome link (folks, trust me on this – you have to check it out!).
Derrick, you’re right; our upbringing has a lot to do with how we view failure. I’m gradually learning to unlearn some of the things I learned about it. Hopefully, it will always be and uphill, not a downhill journey!
Thanks for dropping by!
This one made me smile too.
I closed my eyes and floored it when I left my secure, well-paid, exhausting, stressful job… with no regrets… although sometimes it does feel like I am still taking that second leap over the chasm!
Joanna
PS I’m still looking curious
Joanna, I remember you relating that time. I bet it was quite the leap!
By the way, here’s what Tully said about your icon’s appearance:
“My theory is that she’s likely used a different website on your site and not the same one she used in MBL… As near as I can tell the plugin checks the website URL collected from the comment info, and compares it to the MBL site to see who the author is, so if you use xyz.com in the blog comment area, but your MBL profile has zyx.com you get the default non-image, um, image because it can’t find your MBL profile to pull the picture from… That’s my best guess simply because that’s exactly what she’s done…”
In other words, at MyBlogLog you use the “Coaching Wizardry” web address, but here you’ve used the “Confident Writing” web address. It apparently gets confused and runs home to Mama when that happens.
Funny how you mentioned the Kevin Bacon game… ’cause I was just sent this link here:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=18417083&sc=emaf
about how scientists have reexamined the 6-Degrees and found it to be rather lacking in validity in many cases.
Oh, Sam; say it ain’t so! And I was so thrilled that I was only 6 or fewer people away from actually getting to meet Spiderman! Waaahh!
Well, that’s not to say you aren’t. In one case, a letter took four hops to get from a dirt farmer in Nebraska to a grad student in Cambridge. The six degrees may actually work within the United States, or may work most the time, at least. It just won’t work for every set of two random people in the world as originally stated.
(Although, if you listen to the radio broadcast, they actually mention the “I like being 6 away from [celebrity X]” as one of the reasons people have held onto this theory with very little evidence.)
So you’re saying it’s a million to one shot, eh? Well, at least there’s still hope!
About eight years ago, Bob, I quit my job and floored it. It was the best leap I ever took… I don’t look back on my life with regret. Thanks for all the inspiration.
You’re welcome, Robyn! Nice to know I can be an inspiration to someone… as much as they’ve been to me!
Glad to hear about the leap. Sometimes, taking a leap can be pretty terrifying, even if you know it’s worth it. But it’s just one of those things you have to resolve to “look back on it and laugh” one day – then go for it!
Robert, thanks for the explanation on my picture.
It makes sense – whether or not I’ll be able to change it at MyBlogLog I don’t know… I’ve already mucked it around quite a lot what with starting one blog, than moving to another, and having a different identity I use when I’m surfing as a Blog Angel… but I’ll see if I can get it to work.
I’d like to have my picture show up when I talk to you – though I’m sure you still know that it’s me
Joanna
I can tell it’s you just from the tone, the words, and the style. But still, it’d be nice to see your smiling face, Joanna!
[...] you may remember a few weeks ago I mentioned how Mrs. MZM gets nervous in traffic, right? OK, here’s what happened, I [...]
Thanks. Very inspirational. So many times people are in fear of taking the leap. You know what fear is? False Evidence Appearing Real. When you know in your heart you will succeed… go for it!
Thanks, Joe! And those are great words to live by!
Thanks for dropping by the Zone, my friend!
“Sooner or later it’s going to be time to quit talking about it, climb on board that rocket-powered scooter and prove – not to the world, but to yourself – that you do indeed have what it takes.”
Haha. Have You tried rocket-powered scooter:) ?
Well, figuratively speaking, I guess I have jumped aboard once or twice. If you stick around long enough I’ll probably tell you about sooner or later.
Thanks for dropping by the Zone!
This post really caught my eye, especially the title. Last March I had a dream in which the whole theme was “close your eyes and punch it” the punch it meaning floor it, as it was a car in the dream. It was speaking of change, of the unknown path, and sometimes you have to commit to the turn. You can’t dawdle in the midst of the turn/intersection of change or you’ll either get rear ended or side swiped. Even tho it’s scary to go around a turn blind (change of what’s ahead is always blind/unknown), when change is the direction, you’ve got to go forward. Sometimes hanging back will cause more harm.
That still seems to be a theme for me as well. Change.
Hey, good luck with that, Val! Just remember there’s a whole bunch of us out here waitin’ to help you any way we can. After all, advice is pretty cheap, y’know.
And be sure to write about it!