I have often heard the comment from disappointed sports fans at the end of a frustrating loss “that he left his game in the dressing room!”  What the fan is really saying is that for all the money the athlete is making, they did not play up to the expectations of the team, the owners and most importantly the customers.

It is the same in business and leadership.  There always is and always will be expectations of you as a leader to bring your “A” Game everyday, all day.  Your team, the shareholders and customers all want the absolute best that you have to give.

All too often though, the majority of business people and leaders, leave their game in the dressing room.  Showing up and going through the motions until it is five minutes to five in the afternoon and then they come back to life, pack up their desks and blast off out of the office with renewed energy and drive.  What a waste!  If you are basically dragging your butt around each and every day, you will be sucking the energy out of yourself and everyone around you.  You will be languishing in the well of mediocrity.

You are meant to be alive and living life each and every moment you are here.  You have been designed for that!  Met someone this past week that epitomizes bringing her “A” game everyday.  Energetic.  Passionate.  Heather White is her name.  Based in Vancouver and a real mover and shaker.  You will hear more about her in the future for sure.  Why?  Heather brings all her energy everyday and gives you everything she has.  That is what the world’s best do and that is why they are more successful than most others put together.

My advice…  Find a reason to give it everything you have to give – everyday. Dispense your energy to everyone that needs it freely and without expectation.  You will be happier, more successful and will discover more people want you to succeed.  If your current role doesn’t give you that “I can’t wait to do it all again tomorrow” drive, then do yourself a favour and find another job.  You are meant to live your passion!  You are meant to play at your highest level everyday!

Bob Murray of GrowthPoint presented us with some great tips on what makes this business successful.    Look for him as a star in the upcoming BCIT Online Venture program

“Do people stop being creative as they reach middle age? Ben Franklin certainly didn’t. He invented the lightning rod when he was 44. He discovered electricity at 46. He helped draft the Declaration of Independence at 70, and he invented bifocals after that. Henry Ford introduced the Model T when he was 45. Sam Walton built Walmart in his mid-40s. Ray Kroc built McDonald’s in his early 50s.”

Read today’s article in the  Washington Post.

Photograph: Louie Psihoyos/Corbis