3 min read

I Will Either Find A Way Or Make One

Sep 23, 2016 6:30:00 AM

Today we’re sharing insight from guest blogger Brandon White, Partner at InCite Performance Group. We hope you enjoy Brandon’s wisdom and perspective.

I_Will_Either_Find_A_Way_Or_Make_One-1.jpgAut Viam Inveniam Aut Faciam

I was feeding my appetite for history recently, when I began reading the stories of the great Carthaginian commander, Hannibal, when he spoke the above phrase. The Latin to English translation is: I will either find a way or make one. He is credited with this response when his generals told him it was impossible to cross the Alps, into Italy, by elephant during the Second Punic War (around 218 BC). This turned out to be one of Hannibal's greatest achievements in a military career that earns him praise today as one of history's great strategists.

I was reminded of this historical perspective the other day as I worked with an executive who has had a wonderful start to 2016, but recognized that their pipeline for the next few months is surprisingly empty. There was truly a sense of panic in the discussion because they had no idea where their production was going to come from for the remainder of the year. 

Here we are, in the beauty of fall, when kids are back in school and our focus begins to turn toward 2017 planning. The things and excuses that can distract us from our current goals are all around us. What does the rest of your year look like, as of today? Are you on pace for the goals you have set for yourself professionally and personally? Those New Year’s resolutions feel like a lifetime ago. And the goals you committed to achieve at annual planning meetings seem just as far in the past.

It is time to focus on what needs to be done to "find a way or make one" to our desired outcomes. Here is how we begin:

  • Remind yourself of the planning behind the goals you laid out. Go back to the worksheets or notes you took in preparing for 2016. Reacquaint yourself with what you thought possible and why.
  • Assess what is a realistic target for the remainder of the year and make it smaller. Break your goal down to simple 30-day and then one-week action items. 
  • Find an accountability partner and share your action items with them. Discuss the best way that motivates you to stay on track and develop a system of accountability that works best for you. 
  • Take time to visualize what life looks like when your objective is accomplished. What is your stress level, what is your team feeling, how much is in your checkbook, or what size clothes are fitting into when your goal is reached?
  • Move! Don't wait until tomorrow to act on what needs to be done. Inaction is what has gotten us here in the first place!

What’s The Risk?

The risk comes when we begin to make excuses - we find it is a slippery slope toward a negative habit. If you are part of a team, like most of us are in some way, this negative habit of not achieving what you committed to achieve begins to damage the trust of your team. As we know, the trust people place in you matters. 

With 2017 just around the corner, why should you stay focused on your 2016 goals? There is another Latin phrase that comes to mind: audaces fortuna iuvat or fortune favors the bold. So be bold, stop making excuses, and get moving on your 2016 goals! Remember, it's not like you're crossing the Alps with war elephants and an army!

 

This content was written and shared by guest blogger, Brandon White.

Brandon_White.jpgBrandon is the partner at the InCite Performance Group where he works with independent insurance agencies across the United States, Canada & Latin America to hone risk management expertise across the industry. He speaks across North America on several risk management topics but is internationally recognized as an innovator in the formation/creation of captive insurance companies. Brandon graduated from the University of Kentucky where he was a football letterman. He lives in Louisville, KY and is driven by his wife and two beautiful sons.

Connect with Brandon on LinkedIn and Twitter.

 

Topics: Executive
Gibson

Written by Gibson

Gibson is a team of risk management and employee benefits professionals with a passion for helping leaders look beyond what others see and get to the proactive side of insurance. As an employee-owned company, Gibson is driven by close relationships with their clients, employees, and the communities they serve. The first Gibson office opened in 1933 in Northern Indiana, and as the company’s reach grew, so did their team. Today, Gibson serves clients across the country from offices in Arizona, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Utah.