Woody Allen, the famous director and husband of Mia Farrow’s adopted daughter, once said “Eighty percent of success is showing up.” I will add an addition to that — “One hundred percent of failure is not showing up.” (Unless you were late to board the Titanic of course).
Last night, I drove in from Atlanta. It was a long, emotional day and I was exhausted from the seven-hour drive (thanks Atlanta rush hour). I finally fell asleep at midnight. When my alarm went off at 3:55 a.m., I felt dizzy from my lack of sleep — but I got up anyway. I went to my PLS bootcamp and pushed myself through my fatigue.
I could have slept another hour. I’m not sure it would have done me much good, though. But I know the workout did. Because it proved to me that I can push through fatigue. And it shows me that I can show up on time and get the job done — even when I’m exhausted mentally and physically.
That’s huge.
We are entering an economy where no one cares if you are tired. They don’t care if you don’t feel like being there. If you aren’t there one time and ready to go, the person hiring you will replace you with someone who is there and ready to go. I try to stress that to my kids. And I try to stress that to my students.
If you are a dreamer, you have to learn how to perform when you are half-asleep. This morning I did. I showed up. And I’m thankful for it.