Living in the Boston area was tough enough, compounded by the fact that I was in the travel industry. Suddenly the marketing plans for our travel agency went out the window, as our industry was tanking fast.

I couldn’t figure out why I “was stuck”….it was like I just couldn’t get motivated, and that was so unlike me.

One Sunday in early December, I’m watching my favorite Patriots team play football…the year that Brady came in as the “official” quarterback,
taking over for Drew Bledsoe.
As the sports press were crucifying Bill Belichick’s decision to keep Brady in, I saw a different Patriots team; suddenly this average team rallied around this young quarterback and played their hearts out, winning every game.

While I won’t pretend I understand the intricasies of football, I saw a completely different game plan that Sunday, and the team was totally responsive to Belichick’s new game plan.

I jumped out of my chair, and I’d realized I’d lost my way….because my original game (marketing) plan just didn’t work anymore, and I hadn’t taken time to sit down and write a new one.

I realized Belichick would NEVER go into a game on Sunday without a game plan, and then his next challenge is to communicate that new game plan in only 6 days to his players….and do this every single week for the entire season.

So I learned that Sunday that great leaders know how to write a winning game plan, adjust their game plan to their next opponent, and they are also great communicators to their team.

This all resonates very well with me. Risk-taking is key. Imagine an actor who is afraid to take the risk of getting on stage! We need to take our own sort of risks. With regards to P for Persevere, I would add Prioritize. What I find helps is asking myself a few times a day, when it’s real busy: What is the single most important thing that I need to do right now?

Be well. Enjoy the summer.