The Energy of Anticipation

When I was just a boy, one of my sports heroes was Joe Namath, the brash, blunt, and brilliant quarterback for the New York Jets. Not only were the Jets from my hometown of NYC, but they were in the upstart American Football League (AFL), challenger to the old-school NFL.

My man Broadway Joe said a lot and backed it up on the field. He guaranteed victory over the heavily favored Baltimore Colts in Super Bowl III, and pulled it off, 16-7. Joe’s autobiography was entitled “I Can’t Wait Until Tomorrow, Because I Get Better Looking Every Day.”

Joe did NOT have a self-confidence problem.

So when one of our cool clients shared the title of this blog post with a few of the Builders this week, I couldn’t help but recall the optimism and brash hope of Joe Willie Namath.

Our client (let’s call him “Nate”) was talking about how his life had become more energizing since he’d begun pursuing his OPUS and taking productive actions towards his dreams.

Oh, sure, he still has days of hard work, but somehow something has changed in Nate. He’s found it easier to deal with the “what” in his life ever since he found out the “why.”

Nate’s new attitude popped out when he used the phrase in the title of this blog–“the energy of anticipation.” That’s what you get on the hero’s journey. You know where you’re going and why. You see ahead, into a much clearer future, anticipating both challenge and change, but always hopeful in the “why.”

You can’t wait until tomorrow…

That’s the main difference between those who dream at night, and “dreamers of the day.” According to Os Guiness, another one of my current heroes:

“Dreamers of the day respond to the gap between vision and reality by closing it.”

Thanks, Os.

Thanks, Joe.

Thanks, Nate.

You energize us.