Zach Arend is a speaker dedicated to guiding executives, sales professionals, and entrepreneurial leaders in creating cultures where people “Saddle Their Own.” In his article, he shares the three essential keys to seizing the reins and getting into the arena of your life.
3 Keys to Seize the Reins and Get in the Arena of Your Life by Zach Arend
When I was 11, my mom dropped me off at a ranch to work with my new rodeo coach. For an entire week, I would put on my cowboy boots and throw hay bales, ride horses, and work cattle.
Best of all, I learned to work with a lasso, just like the real cowboys!
Mom drops me off. She leaves. I’m outside, and this cowboy comes to me and says, “Boy, go get your horse, saddle him up, and meet us in the arena!”
I said what any 11-year-old boy would say to a real-life cowboy.
“Yes, sir!”
I’m walking to the barn to get my horse, Joe, thinking, “Saddle my horse! Are you crazy? How will I do that?” — Mom’s not here; she left hours ago!
By now, I had seen her do it at least thirty times. How hard could it be?
It took me three tries, but I surprisingly figured it out. I saddled my horse Joe, and rode into the arena.
Something was different.
I was different.
I was sitting taller in the saddle.
The truth is, most people thrive when the expectation is to saddle their own horse. People crave this autonomy that only comes from taking personal responsibility.
Deep down, you want this too.
Throughout history, we’ve never had more conveniences and comforts than we do now. We spend trillions of dollars on self-care, yet most of us still feel burnt out.
After having worked with thousands of leaders, I can tell you that most of the time, we aren’t actually burned out. We’re just plain bored.
This is about taking personal responsibility for one’s life and work.
There are three very important principles to embody if you’re to take this on:
- See the choice in what you’re doing. You are always response-able – you are always able to respond and make a new choice. Action or inaction is a choice. But what matters most about choice is that you’re making it. “Having” to do something or “needing” to do something isn’t very empowering. Choosing is. Reflect: What choices are you currently making? How well are those choices working for you?
- Pursue work that gives you a sense of effectiveness and challenge. Too much challenge and low effectiveness lead to stress, and being effective but unchallenged is a recipe for stagnation. Rather than wait for permission to challenge yourself and grow, seek it out. Reflect: Do you feel effective while also challenged by your work?
- Learn to work on your terms authentically. Sometimes, we get caught in the trap of trying to please others and often put ourselves last. We seldom do what we think we should do, we do what we think others think we should do. Working on your terms means tapping into your creative expression. It focuses on the result you want to see rather than trying to meet someone else’s expectations. This can feel counter-intuitive, but this trait is rare and valuable in today’s economy. Reflect: What do YOU desire to see happen? What role will YOU play in creating it?
Remember, a life of adventure, leadership, and impact awaits those who are ready to saddle up.
Join me in getting in the arena, playing full out, and leading with courage and passion—because when you do, people will follow.
For more information on Zach Arend, visit https://www.speakernow.com/speaker/zach-arend/
Zach speaks on Accountability, Leadership, High-Performance, Empowerment and Sales.