Hope. It means a lot of things. And a lot of different things to different people. But hope is the lifeblood of success.
Psychologists have spent countless hours studying the idea of hope and how it impacts our day-to-day lives. There are stacks of books and journal articles talking about hope, not just as a “feel good” notion, but as an actual scientifically proven construct that impacts how successful we are or can become.
Psychologists have even come up with something they call The Hope Scale, a measurement tool designed to determine your level of hope. Personally, I believe scientist’s interest in hope says something about its importance in our lives. It’s a fact, hopeful people are more successful people. Hope makes all the difference, whether that’s with academic achievement, sports, arts, science or even the bottom line at your business. Having hope will help you win the day.
Honestly, I didn’t intend to write about “hope” today. With everyone traveling to Las Vegas for the Shot Show, I was going to talk about nightmare travel experiences.
So I have a confession to make... I’m a long-time Minnesota Vikings fan. And if you know anything about Minnesota Vikings history then you know heartbreak and heartache are something we fans know well. In my lifetime, the Vikings have been to, and LOST, four different Super Bowl championship games. We’ve been “oh-so-close” to other appearances, only to have our hopes dashed at the last second, sending us sulking and looking for our blankies to cry in.
But this season, things seemed different, felt different. Until Sunday night when the New Orleans Saints were in the way of that hope. With just 25 seconds left on the clock, and the Vikings trailing on the scoreboard, it appeared the blankies, not the Vikings, would be making a comeback.
But in came hope – just a teeny, tiny glimmer – but hope nonetheless. On the edge of our seats, and with time running out, our quarterback threw a miracle pass, and our receiver caught a miracle catch, and then stayed on his feet and inbounds and scored a miracle touchdown. And hope turned to joy.
I learned after the game that my brother-in-law, Russell, as close to a Viking fanatic as I know, was likewise under great stress and hoping upon hope his beloved Vikings would win. His young son Luke (not Skywalker – though I’m starting to now wonder because of his amazing Jedi mind tricks) was watching the end of the game with his dad and just when things were getting good, decided to leave and do something only a young boy could think was more important (as if that was possible). Before exiting the room he said, “Don’t worry Dad, I know they will win.”
Russell was not convinced by his son’s rather flippant confidence. When the game was over, and he came back down from the rooftops of jubilance, he told his son, “Luke, guess what?! They won!!” To which Luke replied matter-of-factly, “I know dad.” But since Luke had not watched the end, Russell wondered, “How could you know that, Luke?” Luke simply said, “Because I told you that already. I told you they would win.”
From the mouths of babes… and not just hope, but confidence. Unwavering confidence.
But that will have to be a topic for a future newsletter. (And don’t get any ideas about my nephew giving you lottery numbers… I got dibs on that!)
For the Vikings, who play next week in Philadelphia, with a trip to the Super Bowl on the line, hope lives on. For you Saints fans reading this… you’ll have to hope next year is your year. Sorry (not sorry).
Ok, that wasn’t nice.
But seriously folks, when you think all hope is lost. It isn’t. 2017 may not have been your year, but 2018 still can be a good year for your business. You just need to put your hope into action.
See you at the Shot Show! Until next time,
Kenyon Gleason
President, NASGW