Give up the good and go for the GREAT

A few years ago a mentor asked me, “Kirsty how determined are you to be great, instead of just good.” I was confused at first, yet he was right. I was a good Mum, a good friend, a good coach, a good trainer and speaker, a good person. I was avoiding the extra effort that it would take to go from good to great.

At this time I had so much going on – 3 young children, a husband that worked away and re-growing my business in a new city. To add more to the task load and emotional load I was already carrying seemed counterintuitive. But then I realised something – if I didn’t step up, show up and give this 110% I wouldn’t be happy – I wasn’t happy with just good.

I did step up, I did put in the extra 10% effort and I stuck it out during the tough bits. I became very good at some stuff and great at many things. This was reflected in my results personally and professionally.

The call to step up again, and become great again, landed on me in the last couple of months.

I have been rebranding Unity-Qld, which has now evolving into Unity Words. During this time I used the powerful idea of giving up the good and going for great in some of the graphics and social media banners I used. As should be expected, when things change and ideas are becoming wonderful realities, our resolve is tested.

One of these tests came recently and I was faced with a decision to make. A decision that had rewards either way. A decision that would determine if I was ok with good or if I believed in my idea and myself enough to take it to great. Was I confident enough to walk away from this opportunity and what an expert was suggesting because I felt it wasn’t right for my product or me? I chose great.

I knew it would take 10% more effort and more time. I knew it would mean that I am potentially walking away from a good business partnership. I knew that if someone doesn’t believe in my idea, as much as I do, that will never be good enough.

I walked away head held high – even though my knees were shaking and my rational mind was arguing with me. My business is changing direction and adding products, that will be rolled out up to and including March/April 2016, and I am certain and determined about its success.

The people who supported me through this last year are part of the reason that great in my life exists. It is only on their shoulders that I have achieved all that I have. Their belief in me leaves me speechless – the way they see me as something special with something important to say even when I don’t, and their steadying energy and encouragement when I lose my enthusiasm and motivation.