Woody Allen said 90% of life is just showing up. He has a point. If we stay in our bed, in our shell and never show up, not much (good or bad) will happen to us. But showing up can mean much more than that. While showing up takes intention, showing up when it matters most – and being prepared for that moment – is about more than life. It is about joy, growth, satisfaction, pride, and success.

This week is one of those moments where I need to show up – I am facilitating Virtual LeaderCon helping leaders from around the world (including you we hope) learn from our 30 leadership experts and each other.  As I think about what is in front of me, I realize it is my time to make a difference.  We all have these moments, and when we do the five things below, we will be our best in those moments.

Showing Up Aware

Sometimes it is clear that the moment in front of you is important. (I certainly know this week is an important one for our team and more role is an important one.) But have you ever looked back at a situation and realized it was a bigger opportunity than you thought? When I think back on those moments, my biggest thought is always about what I would have done differently (better) had I realized it.  Yes, hindsight is always 20/20 and we can’t get those opportunities back.  But we can learn from them.  And the biggest lesson is to always be looking for opportunities that may show up.

Showing Up Prepared

The first of my lessons from missed opportunities is that I wish I had been better prepared. Chances are there are times you have wished the same.  In other situations, though when you know the moment ahead of you matters, one of the best things you can do is to be prepared.

How do you know if you are prepared enough?  If you are like me, you have erred on under-preparation more often than you have been over-prepared. If so, when the moment is an important one, prepare, and then prepare some more.  Rehearse one more time. Think through the situation and possible outcomes again.  Study and prepare.  Abraham Lincoln said, “I will prepare and some day my chance will come.”  It worked for him, and it will work for us.

Showing Up at Our Best

Preparation helps us be at our best, but so does rest, and a healthy meal.  When your moment arrives, make sure you are ready to be at your best.  Be alert and aware. Do what you can to feed your focus and starve your distractions. You know what you feel like when you are ready and at your best.  Do those things in preparation for your moment to shine.

Showing Up Expectantly

No successful sports team comes into a game expecting to lose. In that realm we all recognize the power of positive expectation, but we sometimes underestimate it for ourselves. I fully expect Virtual LeaderCon to be a smash hit – with leaders and guests all feeling it was a great use of their time and a big benefit to them. I am expecting I will succeed in my moment this week. Our self-expectations play a bigger role in our outcomes than we sometime realize or remember. Showing up with a positive expectation of both our performance and the result plays a big part in our success.

Showing Up Early

We can be mentally and physically ready, and we can be prepared.  But if we show up late, much of the benefit of that work might be lost. Show up early. This gives you time to adjust and adapt to any last-minute changes that weren’t planned for. It gives you time to settle in and relax. Ten more minutes early could be the difference between good and great performance and results.

Admittedly, I wrote this piece for myself – to help me think about how I can best set myself up for success this week.  But all the lessons apply for all of us all the time. My hope for you is twofold – that you apply these ideas for yourself – and that if you are reading between September 12-15, that you log into Virtual LeaderCon and say hello as you show up for your own development.

I’ll be ready to serve you, and I hope to see you there.

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Virtual LeaderCon is your chance to show up – to learn, grow and prepare for your future. Join us from September 12-15, for our fully virtual, highly interactive learning experience to help you become a better leader, communicator, teammate, and human being. Over the full conference, you can learn from 30 leadership experts, ask your questions, and learn from those participating with you. Whether you attend one selected session or the entire event, it is all free to participate with and learn from these experts live. You can also get lifetime access to the recordings of anything you miss at an incredibly small investment. This may be the best thing you can do to improve your leadership skills this year – but the opportunity starts by you showing up. Details and all registration options (including FREE) are here.

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