I am sure you have read the stories of men & women who were shot or wounded in battle but continued fighting even though they were badly wounded. Maybe you heard of a story of an athlete who refused to stop playing in the game despite having a broken bone or torn muscle.
Of course both of these are extreme stories of Playing Hurt, and most of us are not being shot at or tackled at work! Why is it then that we have such a hard time Playing Hurt on the job?
Why do we allow how we FEEL to determine what we do?
Why do we show up at work and then shift into neutral until 5pm?
Why do we go through the motions of work rationalizing that it’s okay because we are “Hurt”?
How can a soldier or athlete still continue even after being hurt or wounded?
I believe those who continue to Play Hurt truly believe they are making a difference. They have a genuine Passion for what they are doing and see the Team they are on as being more important than they are!
How do you see your Job/Work/Profession/Business? Is it JUST a job—a way to get a paycheck only? Is it just about YOU? Why are you doing what you are doing?
The soldier and athlete who are willing to Play Hurt understand WHY they are doing what they are doing and that the people around them are worth jumping on a grenade. Their goal is bigger than themselves.
When you look at your team (where you work), how do you feel about them?
Are you willing to go in everyday even when you do not FEEL LIKE IT (Playing Hurt) and perform like a Rock Star? Or do you drag your rear end, leaving BUTT marks from your car to your office everyday because your Job is TOO HARD, they are TOO ungrateful, TOO mean, or you just don’t like it?
Decide TODAY that even if you do not want to, you are going to PLAY HURT. You are going to put your TEAM above your FEELINGS! NO MORE BUTT MARKS!
Find Your Passion and You Will Find Your Life!