Andy Neary turned 42 and reflects on Ed Mylett's challenge to improve every year. He stopped fearing loss and started using it to learn, which changed his results. His question: are you getting better as you get older?
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So here we are Wednesday morning, and it's my birthday. I am turning 42 today. And as I sit here and reflect back on 42 years on this earth, I'm drawn to a couple thoughts I want to share with you today. Number one, I'm drawn to a podcast that I recently heard with Ed Mylett. And the podcast, Ed talks about getting older. And his challenge to the audience was, every year you get older, are you getting better? Or do you just look at your birthday as just another year and you have no desire to get better? Listen, you're either growing or you're dying. There is no static. And every year your age is getting greater. You need to do the same. And that leads me to my second thought, which is this. When I look back on my 42 years, I think about what has impacted my results today the most at age 42, and that's this. I got rid of the fear of losing. But I used to stew on losses, whether it was a pitch as a pitcher on the mound or early in my business career going after a new client. If I lost, I would let it impact me for days. But today, I don't care about losing. In fact, I try to lose. Because the more I lose, the more I'm going to learn and the more I know I'm going to grow. And that's my challenge to you. Because right now, when you look out at society, everybody's afraid to lose. It's why we give kids seventh place trophies. So don't be afraid to lose. Whether you're turning 42 today, you're turning 59, or you're turning 21, go out and do things differently. Don't be afraid to lose. Whether it's trying a new strategy for your clients or trying a new hobby. Lose, learn, grow. So that's my challenge for you today, is go out. If your birthday is today, no matter, or any other day this year, look at your next birthday as an opportunity to get greater and be better than you were last year. But no, your next birthday is going to make you even greater then than you are now.
