Visualizing Success

The power of embodying the future you. Hold it, see it, feel it, do it.

I am a big sports fan. I can’t help it – I’m from Boston and we’ve been blessed with many championships over the years.

In 2022, the Boston Celtics held a tribute ceremony for Kevin Garnett and retired his #5 jersey to the rafters. Kevin was instrumental in leading the Boston Celtics to the NBA Championship in 2008 along with Paul Pierce and Ray Allen as the Big 3. I loved his energy, his intense determination and “take- no- prisoners” attitude. I loved watching his pre-game ritual of beating his head against the (padded) post under the hoop while repeating aloud “Anything is Possible !” Every time I watched this, I was inspired to believe in myself and to keep trying to be the best I could be in my roles in life.

Imagine being so talented that you went directly from high school to your leadership position or chosen career. KG, as we called him, was the first high school kid drafted directly into the NBA in 20 years and whenever he could, he thanked his coach for always believing in him and teaching him how to improve his skills.

But the reason this night has stuck with me is the video shown of Kevin during the ceremony. He narrated it – he was standing alone in the dark at the Boston TD Garden, home of the Boston Celtics. He gazed up into the rafters at the championship banners, the retired numbers of the legends that had previously played for this storied team. He created a vision of himself one day standing at center court, being honored by the Boston Celtics organization, the Boston fans and admirers from afar. He held that vision throughout the remainder of his career.

And on March 13th, 2022, surrounded by adoring fans, former teammates, coaches, friends, he was moved to tears, pounding his heart in gratitude at this very retirement ceremony he had visualized some 15 years before. I cried watching him cry as he tugged the rope to raise his #5 jersey, his favorite song, “Something in the Air Tonight” by Phil Collins blasted throughout the arena. Wow. What an inspiration!

I tell you this story as it represents the reality of making a dream come true. When I work with my clients, often we talk about self-doubt, fear, “am I good enough?”, am I smart enough? “I help them to look deeply at their own gifts, their dreams, their “stretch” jobs.

When we are unhappy in a job or career, many times we can defeat ourselves by saying, “it’s too late now”, “who’s going to want to hire me?”, I’ll just find a hobby or sport or leisure activity that makes me happy and that will balance me out.

Or, out of desperation, we just grab the next available job that is presented to us. This is jumping away from the fire into unknown territory. It often doesn’t end well because we didn’t take the time to really interview the next company, the next employer. You are interviewing them as well! You need to be very aware of what criteria you are looking for in a new boss, a new company, a new role. We spend so much of our lives “working”, why not have it be a job we love doing, people we love working with, helping a cause we believe in. We deserve to feel purposeful in our work and to be appreciated and recognized for our contributions.