GO TWO MILES
The best chance to succeed at anything is built circumstance-after-circumstance, situation-after-situation, and task-after-task. The key is to find the lowest common denominator in what you are expected to do and focus on it. That will make each effort specific, each strategy clearer, each aspect of performance measurable, and succeeding more achievable… especially if you “go the extra mile.”
It truly pays to do more than is expected of you. Nowhere is this theme more evident than in the Biblical injunction, "If someone asks you to go one mile, go two miles with him." That may sound pretty philosophical, but it's also practical advice if you want to be truly successful in any walk of life… but most notably along your career path.
To travel the first mile brings in the paycheck. It pays the bills. It keeps the boss off your back. But if you really want to step out of the pack, go the second mile. On the second mile you do all the little things that stamps you as a person who is willing to all that is expected -- and then some. That is something that you can’t put a label on… the inner desire to go beyond the expected to entertain the new and different.
Believe me, if you are only receiving a paycheck for your efforts, you will be grossly underpaid. The best compensation plan in the world begins when duty leaves off. It's gained on that second mile. Doing all that is asked of you...then a “little bit more” win it.
In doing a “little bit more,” you have to be willing to do things you may not like in order to bring about the things you do like. This makes one of the keys to going the second mile one where you may not always be asked to do what you like, but you can tackle this project by developing the attitude
that you will always strive to like what you have to do.
Have a sunny day…. and a bright forever.
Lou Vickery can be reached at uplinklou@yahoo.com
ABOUT LOU VICKERY....
Lou Vickery grew up in Atmore, Alabama and attended Escambia County High School (ECHS) in Atmore. Lou earned ten (10) letters in football, basketball and baseball at ECHS.
After graduating from ECHS, Lou signed a professional baseball contract with the St. Louis Cardinals. Over a ten-year career, Lou also played for the New York Yankees organization and coached in the Cincinnati Reds organization.
Lou got his B.S. degree from Troy State University, graduating after his baseball career. Lou did advance studies at the Walter V. Clarke Center for Behavioral Analysis in Providence, RI (1978), and at the Princeton Research Institute for Psychological and Behavioral Studies in Princeton, N.J. (1983).
After spending four years with Merrill Lynch, Lou moved into the training and development field with Pat Ryan and Associates of Chicago, Ill. in l974. He formed his own consulting and training company in l980.
Over a thirty (30) year period, Lou worked with over 2,800 companies in 44 states and two foreign countries, including Nissan Corp., the National Association of Banking Women, RBK Chemical, University of Tennessee Women's Athletic Department, and Universal Underwriters, Inc. He has presented his customerfocus program to over 30,000 people. He has been featured numerous times on both the service and sales segment of ASTN (The Automotive Satellite Television Network).
Lou is the author of ten books. His most recent book is a personal development book entitled: TRAVELING TIPS... ALONG SUCCESS ROAD (UPWORD Press, 2007). This book followed his highly acclaimed novel: A TOUCH OF GRAY (UPWORD Press, 2002) Other books include: HOW TO BE A WINNER...THE YOUNG ATHLETE'S NOTEBOOK (UPWORD Press, l998) and ANSWERS TO BASEBALL'S MOST ASKED QUESTIONS (Masters Press, l995), which is part of the Spalding Sports Library; two attitude and motivational books: THE "I" COMPANY (Athlon Press, l979) and UP YOUR ATTITUDE (Marketing Resources, 1985); and two spiritual and inspirational books: I BELIEVE (UPWORD Press, l991) and I NEED A HUG WITH A GODLY TOUCH (UPWORD Press, l993); and THE GIGGLE, GRIN, LAUGH AND THINK BOOK under the Uncle Louie and Friends label (UPWORD Press, l998).
Lou has also written national sales training manuals for two major corporations. And his collection of sales meetings entitled: THE BEST SALES MEETINGS...EVER (UPWORD Press, l996) is one of his most requested works.
Lou is a past member of the National Speakers Association, Publishers Marketing Association and the Society of Professional Trainers. Presently, he serves on the Board of Directors of the Southwest Alabama Chapter of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.