Walking in the park yesterday, I watched a man playing fetch with his dog. Throw. Chase. Return. Repeat. Then it hit me: 👇
We’re doing the same thing.
Only our stick is different:
• Revenue targets
• Success markers
• Status symbols
Throw. Chase. Return. Repeat.
Good dog. 😃
The game never ends:
• Hit $1M? Chase $10M
• Buy the house? Chase a bigger one
• Win the deal? Chase the next one
We’re the dog. We decide the ´stick´ (our goals). And we throw it.
And we’re completely absorbed in the game.
Don’t get me wrong:
The chase can be exhilarating.
Goals drive progress.
But here’s what we often don’t see during our chase:
The collateral damage in our wake.
While we’re focused on the stick:
• Our physical and mental health deteriorates
• Relationships fade
• Purpose gets lost
• Joy becomes distant
We’re so busy fetching, we forget why we’re running.
The dog in the park is genuinely happy.
But are we?
When was the last time you stopped to check:
• Is this stick worth chasing?
• Does this target serve my larger purpose?
• Who am I becoming in this chase?
Maybe it´s time to redefine success.
It isn’t about:
• How many sticks you fetch and how big they are
• How fast you run
• How far you chase
But about:
• Which games you choose to play
• What you preserve while playing
• Who you become in the process
The stick will always be there.
The game never really ends.
We all know that.
But you get to decide:
• Which sticks matter
• Which chases serve you
• Which games bring joy
Because unlike the dog in the park, you can choose your game.
Make it count.
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