Nothing is more Important than Being Your Best in the Moment
On January 23, 1971, after finishing my birthday dinner—going out was a rare treat back then, typically reserved for after Sunday church—we moved into the family room for cake and ice cream. That’s when my dad rolled in a brand new gold, three-speed bike. He was genuinely thrilled to give it to me. Overwhelmed, I blurted out, “Is it only a three-speed?”
At that age, I wanted what my friends had: ten-speed bikes. In that instant, I watched my dad’s expression shift from joy to anger. Growing up during the Depression, receiving a bike, any bike, was unimaginable to him. My mom tried to stay positive, but my dad turned to me and said, “If you think you’re owed something, what will you get?” He answered himself: “NOTHING.” Then he left the room—no cake, with bike, nothing.
Fast forward to my ninth-grade basketball season, I was excelling, leading in scoring, rebounds, and steals. But I had a problem—I argued with referees, thinking I knew better. After getting thrown out of two games, my mother echoed my dad’s words from 1971: “Do you think someone owes you something?” She reminded me I was owed NOTHING.
Later that year, the JV coach Dave Roberts, mentoring me—he pushed me to excel so I could have the opportunity to play college basketball—told me the same thing. He said, “If you fail to prepare and don’t focus on the small details, what will you get?” The answer, again, was NOTHING.
In 1988, I opened a new territory for ADP. Newly married with a child on the way, I was riding high as a top producer. But when the new fiscal year began, I wasn’t performing as I had before. Seeking advice, I met with my mentor, Bill. He asked, “If you lose the discipline and work ethic you had last year, what will that get you this year?” He stayed silent until I answered: NOTHING. He reminded me of what my father said back in 1971—no one, my managers, my clients, my friends, owes me anything—and nothing should be more important to me than staying disciplined and focused on performing my best, which was crucial to providing for my family.
These lessons proved invaluable on January 15, 2009. On US Airways Flight 1549, later known as the Miracle on the Hudson, taking personal responsibility, staying focused, and performing at my best in the moment was critical—for me, everyone on the plane, the first responders, and the medical teams who saved lives that day.
You can have all the talent in the world, but if you lack discipline, fail to execute, and lose focus when it counts, you end up with NOTHING—or worse.
Everything I learned through those moments prepared me for that critical day in 2009. If I had grown complacent and ignored details, I might not be here today. If the Captain hadn’t maintained discipline, focus, and execution, the 155 people on board—and the countless lives born to them afterward—would not be here either.
As you develop your plans for 2025—both in business and life—remember: No one owes you anything. And NOTHING matters more than maintaining your focus and discipline and being your very best for your business, your family, and yourself.