Have you ever been to Bora Bora?

In that French Polynesian island nestled in the South Pacific, on most days the temperature of the water and the air temperature are the same.  Whether you walk from the beach into the translucent aquamarine waters or from the waves onto land again, it feels the same, with no discernable change at all.

Imagine that – going through life with conditions so comfortable and predictable, we experience and seek as little change as possible?

This week, I had the pleasure of sitting down with my study group, a collection of successful and dynamic individuals by any standards.

It occurred to me that what we set out to accomplish through assembly is the exact opposite of that – the anti-Bora Bora, if I may extend the metaphor.

Instead, our sole purpose is to eliminate that feeling of “same” in our lives. With introspection and conscious effort, we work towards a goal of change versus no change – a profound difference between air temp and the seas.

Why?

Too often in life, we’re all guilty of looking at the trappings of someone’s success (whether that’s perceived or real success) and think, “Wow, I wonder how he/she does that?”

What makes that person tick? Why is it so easy for them? What do they have or do that I don’t?

All-too-quickly, we conclude that they must be fundamentally different than we are.

I could never do that, we tell ourselves. Hence, we never even try, or realize the individual characteristics and benefits that make us special. (To be sure, someone is looking at the trappings of your success and making the comparison, too!)

Many years ago, I asked the most successful person in our business what he liked about our vocation.  He replied, “I hate doing this less than I would hate doing something else.”

I NEVER want to feel that way.

The only way we grow and improve is by feeling that change; trying something new; challenge ourselves.

We need to seek the difference between air and ocean and eschew our comfort zone. After all, excellence is only as sweet as the effort we put into achieving it.

I promise you that the ensuing transformation in your life will be just as breathtaking as Bora Bora.

-J.D.