week 54: say "i get to" instead of "i have to"

power of words

thank you to over 11,000 of you who read this weekly and share with your friends and family for behind the scenes on building a million dollar business from scratch and beyond. i also include a personal note in the end so i am grateful that you let me do that without judgement.

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work is hard.

starting a business is hard but also at GTM Partners we get to do research with 1000s of leaders and it seems like it is hard everywhere.

but something i learned to do that helps me do whatever i have to do with joy, especially when it’s hard.

i used to say:

• i have to call my customers

• i have to create a website

• i have to do sales calls

then i started saying:

• i get to call my customers because talking to customers gives meaning to my work

• i get to create a website because it allows me to be creative

• i get to make sales calls because it drives payroll for me and my teammates

the power of words is undeniable.

the author of the book of Proverbs says it this way:

Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.

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on a personal note, it’s been pretty long hours for me.

even though Friday evening to Sunday noon, i am totally off the grid, the rest of the days are pretty back to back.

now i used to just let my wife drop the kids each day and she does that most days but i have been finding joy in getting at least 2 days to drop the kids.

i get to talk to them and hear their thoughts.

unless i am traveling, most days, i pick the kids from their activities so that allows me to again connect 1:1 on what’s going on.

i was that guy who used to say, i HAVE TO get my kids and sometimes i do say that and catch myself.

now, i realize my problem and have started to say, i GET TO pick my kids so i can spend time with them.

it’s a totally different feeling.

and it’s not artificial.

it’s real.

i get to drink chai with my wife.

i get to work to provide for my family.

the list of “i get to” is beautiful.

go make a list of three “i get to…” list now and drop it in the comments.

even better, share it with your family and teammates and bring joy to their world.

leaderpoint: in business and in life, words have the power of life and death.