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Be The Best - The Art of Winning

Written by Chris Widener

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Commit, Commit!

Suddenly, our radios blared with an urgent call from the radar ground controller, “Viper flight, you’ve got an MIG-23 150 miles off your nose headed south . . . hostile, hostile!” This meant the MIG had crossed the no-fly zone and was headed toward us and the fuel tankers we were in charge of protecting. A split second later, my headset erupted with a call from Hos. “Viper flight, COMMIT, COMMIT!”

It was December 21, 1998 - a brisk winter day in Saudi Arabia. I was stationed on my first combat deployment, flying missions to enforce the Iraqi southern no-fly zone. Inexperienced and quite nervous, I was scheduled to take off on only the fourth combat sortie of my career. It was a mission I’ll never forget.

I was flying that day with my flight lead, Lt. Col. “Hos” Hyatt, the commander of the 79th Fighter Squadron Tigers. Our “2 ship” of F-16s were charged with “sanitizing” the airspace of any enemy aircraft that might be crossing the restricted area. It was a routine patrol. Or not.

Suddenly, our radios blared with an urgent call from the radar ground controller, “Viper flight, you’ve got an MIG-23 150 miles off your nose headed south . . . hostile, hostile!” This meant the MIG had crossed the no-fly zone and was headed toward us and the fuel tankers we were in charge of protecting. A split second later, my headset erupted with a call from Hos. “Viper flight, COMMIT, COMMIT!” Almost unconsciously, I pushed up my throttle to afterburner and started to climb, as I struggled to stay in perfect formation with Hos. There was no turning back. We were going after that MIG.

{sidebar id=14 align=left}With those two words, “Commit, Commit,” my destiny was set in motion. No time to think, simply time to react. I was trained for that moment and my instantaneous choice was clear: It was time to “commit.”

My heart raced. The intensity was beyond words. Quite frankly, there was a part of me that asked, “Am I ready to do this? Will I get shot at? What if my engine fails?” Doubt crept in. But deep down, I knew I was ready and mentally and emotionally prepared. Otherwise I had no business being in that jet! Aborting that mission was not an option-period. I had a job to do. All my military training boiled down to this one moment, and I simply had to trust my wingmen, stay in position, and execute the briefed plan. It was time to act.

That moment may have come in the extreme of combat, but it was really no different than the “call to duty” we all face in everyday life and business.

Do you have the discipline and training to commit to action in your life-to “push it up” and go after your target with confidence? Do you have the discipline and training to commit to action in your life - to “push it up” Perhaps it’s the challenge of raising a family, a new job opportunity, going for a promotion, embarking on a fitness regimen or a “serious” diet, or the trust and rigors that come from of a relationship. The actions you take once you commit will determine the quality of your outcome.

If you’re not ready to commit, no problem. Perhaps it’s not the right time, or you just need more time. But if you really are committed to take action in your life, you better have the discipline to do what it takes to commit with confidence and foster that level of trust others can count on.

True commitment only exists when it is aligned with action. Action based on disciplined preparation, laser-sharp focus and, most of all: courage. The sort of courage that says, “Even though I may get ’shot at’-I will carry on!” This is the reality of flying fighters in combat, and it is also the reality of leading a life of passion that is based on commitment and action.

Bottom line: Before you commit to anything, you have to risk getting “shot at.” You have to be willing to work and sacrifice. Let’s face it, it’s not easy to commit. If it were, everybody would be doing it.

{sidebar id=5}My good friend, Dirk Jones, does 110 pushups every morning and he’s in the gym more than I am. Dirk is 73. He’s committed to staying fit and takes action to do so every day. I recently spoke to people from an amazing retail management company named Jones Lang LaSalle. Last year, a severe tornado ripped through one of their properties in Memphis-the Hickory Ridge Mall. Petrified, one of the employees refused to evacuate the building. Pat Jacobs, the mall’s GM, stayed behind and risked his life to make sure the employee was safe. Another wingman named Barry Woods drove 8 hours and spent 3 weeks with his coworkers to help them recover from the disaster. Barry and Pat were committed to serving their wingmen at JLL. They took action and it made a deep difference for their company..

So here’s the wingtip: The ability to face our fears, harness courage, and commit to action when the stakes are high is a lot easier when we act in service to others. More importantly, when we have a trusted partner on our wing backing us up, it gives us courage to press on.

Hos was on my wing. Who’s on yours? (PS: The MIG aborted and went back across the border. Mission accomplished!)

While others live the mundane and settle into a life they never bargained for, a rut, the Best dream of a better life. And then they take the risks necessary to achieve their dreams. They live by Teddy Roosevelt's quote: Far better it is to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs though checkered by failure, then to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy nor suffer much because they live in the grey twilit that knows neither victory nor defeat.

I spoke to a group of salespeople recently as they kicked off their new team. It was exciting to see them get excited about making a difference through their work. The topic they assigned me was "Simply the Best." So as I prepared, I asked myself, "What characteristics would help someone pass the "Best" test? That is, what are the characteristics of those who become the "best" at what they do? Here are the thoughts I shared with them:

The Best are optimists. You can't get to the top if you don't think that there is a top or if you think you can't make it. One characteristic of those who reach the peak is that they always believe that things can get better or be done better. This pushes them on to be their best.

The Best have vision. They can see ahead of the pack. Their eyes aren't locked into the here and now. They see the bright future and what things will look like when they reach their destiny. While working hard for today, they live for the future! They do what Stephen Covey calls begin with the end in mind.

The Best relentlessly pursue excellence. The status quo is not for them. They want to be the best and experience the best. And that means giving their best. They go the extra mile so that in everything they do, in everything they say and think, they are striving for excellence.

The Best have a life long habit of personal growth. They don't want to stay at the level they are at. They want to grow in their work, their intellect, their spirituality, their relationships, and in every area of their life. And they discipline themselves to put themselves in situations wherein they grow. Personal growth doesn't "just happen." You choose to grow. I always suggest what Zig Ziglar does and that is to enroll in "Automobile University." Whenever you are driving around, listen to a personal or professional growth tape or CD. Over the long run you will grow. Also, read more. The old saying is true: Leaders are readers. So are those who pass the "Best" test.

The Best understand that they will be pushed by the competition - and they welcome it. Like the lead runner in the race who has someone on his heels, the best know that the competition is right behind them. They love it though because they know that the competition keeps them from becoming lazy and resting on their laurels. Instead, the competition pushes them to go faster and to achieve more - to remain the best by forging ahead.

The Best have a quest for leadership. Someone has to lead - it may as well be the best! Those who attain it get there because they want to. They want to lead and help make a difference. And they want to be equipped with the skills necessary to lead others on to a better place.

The Best leave a legacy. They aren't in it just for themselves, though they will surely reap the rewards of being the best. Rather, the build things that last beyond themselves, things that can be enjoyed by others as well.

The Best are adept at the two most important pieces of time and personal management: Prioritize and execute. Just like weight loss boils down to eat right and exercise, personal management boils down to prioritize and execute. First, prioritize your activities. The important stuff goes on the top. Then, execute: do them. The best have habits and discipline that get them to the top by doing the best things and doing them first.

The Best focus on building relationships. Success does not come alone. Everyone who achieves much does it with the help of countless others. How do the Best get others to help them? They treat them right. They embrace them and help them. People become the best because they help other people, and people like them.

The Best make no excuses. When they fail they admit it and move on. They get back up and do it right the next time. They let their actions speak loader than their words. They stand tall and do the right thing the next time. No excuses, just results.

The Best understand that the good is the enemy of the best. Yes, they could say, "this is good." But that would mean they have settled for less than the best. Many people think that good is good. Good is not good. Good is the enemy because it keeps us from the best. Choose your side: the good or the best. The Best choose, you guessed it, the Best.

The Best Dare to Dream. While others live the mundane and settle into a life they never bargained for, a rut, the Best dream of a better life. And then they take the risks necessary to achieve their dreams. They live by Teddy Roosevelt's quote: Far better it is to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs though checkered by failure, then to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy nor suffer much because they live in the grey twilit that knows neither victory nor defeat.

Want to be the best at what you do? Take inventory on the above characteristics and then start moving to bring your life in line with the characteristics of the "best." Then when you get to the top you will know that you have passed the "Best" test.

Chris Widener
		About the author:
		Chris Widener is a popular speaker and author who has shared the podium with US Presidents, helping individuals and organizations turn their potential into performance, succeed in every area of their lives and achieve their dreams. Join subscribers in over 100 countries for a weekly leadership & success eZine by clicking here. Enjoy motivational audio programs from Chris Widener & other top speakers including Zig Ziglar & Brian Tracy by visiting www.MadeForSuccess.net. .