We have all heard or used the phrases, “Your glass is half empty” or “Your glass is half full,” to describe if a person is an optimist or a pessimist.  I am someone that has used those phrases very liberally when I would speak to people in my personal and professional life.  If I felt someone was being negative or not seeing the big picture, I would say, “Your glass is half empty.”  If he or she was being positive or optimistic despite the challenges they faced, I would say, “Your glass is half full.”  As a manager, I would often use those terms to assess the mindset of my team.  Of course, the hope being that the operating mindset was one of, “The glass being half full.”

Hungry animals just attack

I was recently talking to someone about the importance of having a positive vs. negative attitude.  At one point in our discussion, he asked me why I was always positive and seemed so upbeat and excited about life, regardless of the challenges or obstacles that I have faced.  He said, “Why does your glass always seem half full?”  Without hesitation, I fired back an answer that surprised me. I said, “So many people get hung up on the verbiage of someone’s glass being half full or half empty.  As far as I am concerned, it does not matter if someone’s glass is half full or half empty if they are thirsty.” A hungry animal does not get hung up on the size of the prey.  They attack small prey with the same ferocity as if it were big game.

Just Drink

As I reflected on the answer I had given him, I tried to figure how I came to that conclusion.  I picked up one of the journals that I have written and the answer soon emerged.  Whenever I described one of my aspirations such as Salesperson of the Year, District Manager of the Year, Winning a Golf Tournament (scrambles only), writing a book or learning to play the piano, I described what one would consider days that my mental glass was half full or half empty as I pursued those aspirations.  Yes, I may have made more progress when I had a positive attitude and my mental glass was half full, but that did not mean that I was completely unproductive or did not make progress when my mental glass was half empty.  Why?  Because regardless of the challenges or obstacles both mentally and physically, I was still very thirsty and willing to drink whatever was in the glass.

Regardless of how I felt internally my passion and desire for my aspirations was absolutely relentless. Whether I felt positive, negative or otherwise, my dreams were bigger than a simple “passing” thought of being positive or negative. The energy that people experienced as they observed my drive for achieving my aspirations was not about being positive or negative, it was about being Purposeful.  I call this the Relentless Pursuit of Excellence!

Yes, Tiger Woods

As I focused my research on others that are pursuing Excellence, one example stands above the rest.  In 2008, I had the privilege of attending the US Open at Torrey Pines in San Diego CA.  Thanks again G Force!  We have all heard about how Tiger Woods, once again, beat all odds and won the tournament despite his desperate need to have knee surgery.  Well, I was there.  I saw the look of pain and agony on his face every-time he took a swing.  I was only several yards away and saw how he at times could barely walk as he hobbled down the fairway.  But I also saw something else…he was Purposeful or should I say “Thirsty.” I am sure that both negative and positive thoughts entered his mind over the course of the tournament; however, they were trumped by the overwhelming thought of, “I want to and am going to win no matter what!”

Here is the lesson:  No one wakes up feeling either 100% positive or 100% negative every day.  There are ebbs and flows in everyone’s mentality.  However, what should not change is your desire, purpose and passion for achieving that which you are pursuing. Regardless if your glass is half full or half empty…if you are thirsty, drink every drop!

To your story!

Ja Marr