control the controllableS
GAME #5: and how to stop worrying about everything else
3.19.24
⏳ THE LINE-UP
What’s on the lineup card (agenda)?
This week we are tapping back into pillar #2 - The Mental Game.
Our focus today is all about controlling YOUR controllables. In a world where you really can’t control anything, stick to this one fundamental - look down at your feet and control what is right in front of you. But how!?
☕️ THE WARM-UP
What does control the controllables even mean?
Whether you heard the saying in a locker room, from your sales manager or executive leadership, this phrase gets thrown around without description and little to zero practical application. Today, you’ll leave with a few examples and one or two ways for you to take control (of what matters).
The simple way I’ve learned to articulate it from other coaches and my own understanding is that it's focusing on the process OVER the outcome. The recipe or playbook looks like this
Awareness + Acceptance + Choice + Commitment
Identify what’s within your control and what is not
Accept the truth - honestly (without judgment)
Make a choice on how your mind or body will handle it
Commit to the process over and over again
We ALL have something that is NOT within our control - that we focus on. And we all have something that IS within our control - that we don’t focus on.
Have you ever seen one of these guys on the corner?
…or maybe you’re watching the local barista serve you a latte with a foam picture that resembles a city skyline or the local gardener that makes the grass look like it should be in a museum. These people are controlling what they can - being the best [insert role, job, task] at whatever they are being called to be at that moment.
It makes me think of my godfather, old baseball coaches or parents telling me to handle the task in front of me and the scoreboard (outcome) will take care of itself.
So how do you put it into practice?
Energy (don’t just bring it, create it) If you’re the 6th man, your job is likely to bring energy - like these guys. Even better, you can also generate energy like Brenden Burchard talks about HERE.
Effort (even if you have doubt or lose) because you’ll have to do it again tomorrow. Don’t take it from me. Take it from the Mamba.
Attitude (even when you’re coming off the bench) because if your job is to be a pinch runner, then be the best damn pinch runner. Dave Roberts in 2004 made a career from it.
So how do you go about figuring out what’s within your control and what isn’t?
⏱ GAMETIME - Try this exercise out
Ready to keep it simple? Create a 3 column list.
Write down what is within your control
Write down what is not within your control
What choices you will make knowing both
Need an example - download this PDF HERE
🏁 THE CLOSE
Highlights From Today & Sources for Continued Learning
Commit to creating your controllable list
Listen to this 2 minute speech from Inky Johnson on Controlling the Controllables
Read The Energy Bus by Jon Gordon. Rule #3 is all about, “fueling your ride with positive energy.
ON DECK
Teaser to What Leadership Pillar and Topic Is Up for Next Week
Next week, we are tapping back into pillar # 2 - Communication Skills. Join us as we talk about how you can Handle Hard Better with Kara Lawson from Duke.
