Today is the Best Day of the Year
Randy Wolken, President & CEO
It’s really easy to see the hardship and challenges of our lives. It can be discouraging and downright ugly on some days. We all feel it. We wake up and want to crawl right back into bed. But, we need not. We can declare it the best day of the year.
It may seem like a small matter. A simple declaration that today is the best day of the year is easy enough to do. But, does it have an impact? I am convinced it does! It makes all the difference in how the rest of your day will be. Why? It’s a declaration on how you will live today – and quite possibly the rest of your days.
I have developed a daily habit of asking myself a simple question. I ask myself, “Will I do my best to make today the best day of my year?” I know that it seems this question would have no real impact on my day, however, it does in a very big way.
When I answer yes to this question each day – and it is a choice I have to make – I declare that I want it to be more than a good day. I want it to be the best day of my year. That is not a small leap forward. It is a quantum leap. And, in today’s world where good is no longer good enough, it likely is the difference I will need. Amazing things happen when people know you are committed to every day being the best day.
Did you know that according to a Gallup Survey of millions of employees, the average employee is working only 3 hours in an 8-hour day? Wow! Why is that? They simply are not engaged. They are not seeking the best day of their year in the here and now. They are seeking to escape today. They are waiting until the evening and weekend to have a great time. Our organizations miss out on the best we can give to and get from our teammates. Why? Because they are not having the best day of their year each day. They are only having it when they are escaping from work or away from work. This hurts our organization and our community. We need to do something about it – today!
So, what are we to do? We need to model our lives so that we are committed to having the best day of the year each and every day! We need to smile and strive and strive some more. We need to lead with passion. We need to have fun as we work – not just after we work. Work needs to be a part of who we are and how we add value. We certainly are not our work. However, we should be able to express ourselves in our work – and to enjoy doing it. As leaders, this is our main task. We must model “all in” engagement and a deep level of joy and commitment to making this the best day of the year – until tomorrow. To do so we need to ask ourselves if we are willing to make it the best day of the year. Are you willing to do that?