Happy Thoughtful Thursday! If you don’t know by now, I’m a huge hockey fan and I often think about what it means to skate to where the puck will be.
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I’ve been following Charlene Li on LinkedIn for quite some time now. I watched her TED talk a while back and was impressed by her view on transformational leadership. I’m finally getting around to listening to the audiobook of The Disruption Mindset. I’m always happy to hear her quote one of the greatest hockey players of all time: Wayne Gretzky. Gretzky is famous for saying a quote his father, Walter Gretzky, told him, “Skate to where the puck is going, not where it has been.”
Sense the trajectory
“Puck sense” makes for a formidable hockey player. There are some players that are awe-inspiring. Mark André Fleury, goalie for the Vegas Golden Knights, like Gretzky, has great puck sense. There’s a reason why he’s #3 in all-time wins. He’s an amazing athlete and he seems to anticipate the puck. Connor McDavid of the Edmonton Oilers is another. That kid is magical and is frequently compared to fellow Oiler Gretzky. They are both fully committed to their sport. They don’t win every game, because you just can’t, but they take their losses, learn from them, and keep going. Following their passion and doing their best is what fuels them.
Li uses this quote to express the need to look to the future customer for the next big thing that will propel an organization forward. This advice is not useful only for companies but also in your personal life. It’s important to think about where you want to go in the future and to figure out what is important to you. If you can anticipate the trajectory of your focus–whatever that may be–you can plan to meet it where it will land. It’s definitely something to think about.
Ideally, your personal goals should align with your professional goals. Doing something fulfilling means you will be more engaged and give it all you can. If you feel you’re not on the right path, that’s ok. You can make a plan to meet your “puck” at the right moment. Keep going, keep planning, and always remember you are magical! Fueled by your commitment and determination you will excel if you remain focused on your purpose.
I hope you have an awesome Thursday!
