Living with a public figure taught me that people are always watching. But in today’s environment of ever-ready cameras, I don’t think it’s much different. It's a glass house world where someone really is always watching.
There was a massive accident in my community last week and accountability fell largely on the shoulders of one individual.
As initial speculation gave way to hard evidence, it was apparent we really do live in an Information Age. From surveillance footage to personal cell phones to dash-cams, when in public, there’s almost nothing you can hide… an overwhelming thought considering how often we make stupid mistakes and hope no one is looking.
If you watch public figures closely, some are amazing at handling their overt blunders, and some… not so much. Here's what I've learned.
When we find ourselves in the aftermath of a poor choice we shouldn’t bury our head in the sand. People in the public eye learn this quickly because they don’t have the luxury. There’s no sand, only cameras. They learn the best follow-up is to acknowledge the blunder and ask two questions:
1. What can I learn from this? Mistakes are the most constructive teachers. If you dismiss them too quickly you’ll miss vital opportunities for growth. Every organic thing on this earth is in a process, it’s either growing or decaying. Make sure you’re moving in a positive direction by using every experience as a life lesson. The world only spins one direction. Hitch a ride. ✌️
2. Where do I go from here? Mistakes are singular events — unless you choose to repeat them. This means they don’t have to keep you in chains. They are past. Keep them there and only revisit them for inspiration to change. If a mess-up is slowing you down in the present, that’s because you’re letting it control you. You control you, remember?
Train yourself to identify the things you can control and those you can't. Once you let go of things outside your influence you'll be able to celebrate progress rather than criticizing yourself when goals aren’t met.
Mess-ups are hard to swallow, but there’s a lesson in every one if you can be humble enough to learn it.
Life coaches are under an ethical obligation to not talk about the past. I actually love that limitation because it forces us to be firm with clients about looking forward and not backward. Let the past be important in its influence, but only in the way an angle adjustment influences trajectory.
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