by Debbie Ruston, Featured Contributor
This statement by Wayne Gretzky is very powerful, if you really understand how to apply this to every area of life. “A good hockey player plays where the puck is. A great hockey player plays where the puck is going to be” When you break this down visually, Wayne took action and put himself where he felt the puck was going to be, instead of what was obvious…where it was. That distinction in thinking made him one of the best hockey players in history.
In business and in life, decisions have to be made. Many times people base their decisions on where they are right now, (where the puck is) instead of where they want to go, which takes courage, vision and powerful decision making followed by action.
This requires thinking more long term and making decisions short term that support that, rather than settling for decisions that are short term in the moment. In sports such as hockey, it obviously requires very quick decision making skills that allowed someone like Gretzky to foresee where the puck would be. In life and in business we tend to have a little more time than this, however, it is important to make the same type of quick decisions that support “where the puck (our goal) is going to be”.
Many years ago, I learned a very simple concept that made all the difference in applying this principle. When you have a decision to make, simply ask yourself, will this bring me closer or further away from my goal. If the decision brings you further away, you are making the wrong decision, usually coming from a place of fear or limiting beliefs. Only make decisions based on where you want to go….that is where the puck is!
