As I have been watching the NBA playoffs the last few weeks, I’ve been reminded of the importance of all the players on all the teams. Every one of them—at some point—is called upon to make a contribution. It’s a long season, and every team needs depth. It’s not enough to just have super-star players whose names we all know and who command all the attention.
Some of the lesser-known players have been in the NBA (often on many different teams) for their entire careers. They are NBA journeymen, and many of them have played at some point under 10-day contracts. They’re used to having to prove themselves, to show they can compete and contribute. Every day poses a new test and challenge: score points, play defense, support the team, and get the job done.
How many of us approach our jobs each day with that same mindset? We usually go to work thinking about the next project deadline or deliverable, which might be weeks or months down the road. We complain about the lack of resources to get things done. We sit in meeting after meeting, accomplishing little or nothing, just hoping to inch a little further toward our goal. And if we are in leadership roles, we often show up at work each day and improvise around the latest crisis, email flurry, or employee meltdown.
What if your job was a 10-day contract? What if you had to prove your value and justify your hiring every day—or you would be out of a job? What if you approached every day with the intention of making the most of your time, seeing the possibilities in every action to add value? What if you left at the end of each day knowing that you gave it your best effort, instead of feeling uninspired, frustrated and spent?
Even if you don’t follow professional sports, I encourage you to apply the idea of the 10-day contract to your own career. Don’t just go through the motions. Change your mindset and demonstrate your value contribution each and every day. You’ll find there are many ways that you and your organization will benefit. Now go out there and show your team what you can do!