This week I received an unusually high number of calls from clients who, for the lack of a better word, are worried. They are worried about the market. They are worried about the economy. They are worried about their budgets. They are worried about the companies they are working for. They are worried about their own jobs within the companies they are working for, and the list goes on and on. Ask me if I’m worried… after all, I’m an entrepreneur whose livelihood is tied to all of these factors. The answer is a resounding, “No!” It wouldn’t be a BlArticle™ if I didn’t tell you why, so let’s go a bit further with this.
To begin with, I’ve never been a fan of the word “worry.” It’s not that I haven’t been apprehensive from time to time, but I just don’t like the word. I hear the word “worried”, and I think of someone sitting in a corner chewing their nails, hoping for a solution they seem to have no control over. As an athlete, I never wanted to play a game when I was in a worried state of mind. As a coach, I never wanted to coach a team that was worried. As a salesman, I never wanted to meet with a client while I was feeling worried. As a speaker, I never want to take the stage worried. Even Webster’s Dictionary doesn’t seem fond of the word, defining it as: “To torment with or suffer from disturbing thoughts; fret.” How in the world can worry really contribute to your success?
Years ago, I decided to get rid of the word. I removed it from my vocabulary, and if there were a way to create a junk word list in my Microsoft Word program, that word would be the first in it. Anyone who knows me will tell you that they just don’t hear that word come out of my mouth. I replaced it with the word, “anxious.” Webster’s seems much more comfortable with this word; “Earnestly desirous; eager.”
That may sound like semantics to you, but to me, it goes deeper than that. I’ve never known anyone who performs better when they are worried. When my kids used to tell me they were worried about a particular situation, I used to tell them: “If I thought worrying about it would improve my chances of success, by even 1%, I would be one of the most spectacular, competitive worriers you ever saw!”
Now as for being anxious, that I can relate to. You can channel that anxiousness to energy, focus, and truly believe it can contribute to your success. It’s amazing sometimes what a simple word change can do. Rather than push the thought of worry away, you can embrace the idea of being focused.
One of my favorite quotes, and one that happens to be sitting by my coffee maker so I can see it when I grab a cup to start my day, says it the best:
“Worry is the misuse of your imagination.”
Are you guilty of misusing your imagination from time to time?
I found a new definition of Worry: The counterproductive method of getting anything accomplished.
Rob, always take the time to read your blogs because I always get something out of it. I’m trying to incorporate “it is what it is” into my life as a way of trying to reduce my stress. But certainly “worry is the misuse of your imagination” is good too. So, perhaps in a future blog you can take this one step further and suggest systematic steps to STOP the process of worrying. I know you can’t be expected to know EVERYTHING, but if you can share how you stop your mind from going over to the “worry” side, I’d love to hear it! Keep on blogging Rob. You are a wealth of information!
Judy
Rob, nice “BlArticle.”
I think Judy may be on to something…
Once again, a great point. the rest of it – that I try to employ is: ‘ … and action destroys worry’.
Enjoy the day.
Patrick Nolan
Rob – I really enjoyed this since I definitely tend to be a worry wart! When appropriate, I’ll try to be more anxious instead –
Joan
Jim always tells me, “If you didn’t have something to worry about, you would make something up.” I like your approach better!
Victoria
Rob, Thanks for the words of motivation. I was worried with all the work I have this week and how to fit it in. Reading your article has made me change they way i’m looking at it and seeing it more as a challenge!