Do You Practice Like You Play?

You know when something hits you between the eyes over and over? Do you think this is a coincidence?

A speaker at the E-Women’s Network Conference said that if you hear or see the same thing three times it’s the universe trying to get your attention.

A concept that I’ve been teaching my students is from author Derek Siver and founder of CD Baby, “How you do anything, is how you do everything.”

I have been using this as my daily motto. It’s deep and encompasses everything! However, I’ve now added onto the quote:

“How you do anything, is how you do everything and results in who and what you attract into your life.”

It’s about being in better alignment with the creative future you want to have.

I’m always telling our son a similar saying that “you practice like you play.” You can’t just go to practice each day, give it the bare minimum or even a mediocre effort and expect when it’s your time to shine, that you actually will!

When we show up for work or show up in our art practice, we need to show up the way we would on the day we create our greatest masterpiece or when we make that incredible deal or help to save that patients life!

We often call it in and use only our “play” performance. Instead we need to make each action mean the most that it can.

One of my mentors, Lisa Sasevich said something that made me see things even further extended into that concept. She said when you purchase something or volunteer your time to a charity or when you say you are going to do something…. it needs to be a commitment.

Don’t make that commitment unless it’s an absolute yes, right up front. Don’t buy something and then return it later. Don’t commit to doing something and then call up later and excuse yourself or worse yet don’t show up!

Why? Well one it’s a waste of time for you and the business.

Second, it’s very costly. Did you know when you buy something for $500 it costs that business about $18 to process it online with the credit card processor? Then when you return it, it also costs them $18 to process your card.

That’s right. That business is now $36 in the red and they need to use the profit from another sale just to cover these losses.

So when you wonder why profit margins need to be so big, it’s because these costs need to be covered. Do you have these profits built into your business? Are you even aware of these costs?

She pointed out that when you do something like this, buy and return without really investing in your decision first, you create returns in your own life. You are attracting this type of behavior from others as well throughout all areas of your life and business.

I do believe that you should act with consistence and be in congruence with what you want in life. So I’m making concerted efforts to make heck yes decisions, take action and make the best of it each day.

It’s amazing what happens when you live your life with purpose and a plan. Getting clear and present for each decision and action.

I’m practicing like I play. How about you?