One of the more unusual things I've done recently is appear on the TV quiz show Countdown.

It got me thinking about parallels with other parts of life and work.

And I think there are some interesting takeaways.

Let’s dig in…

1. You have to be okay with looking like an idiot

I had some doubts before I applied for the show.

I knew there was a chance I’d get my butt kicked.

I might not score a single point…

Even worse I could get picked on by the “Queen of Mean” (Anne Robinson).

And I felt uncomfortable about this being broadcast on national TV.

If I’m being honest, I didn’t want to look like an idiot…

We live in a world where everything is presented as picture perfect.

Open up Instagram right now and you’ll see this in action…

Perfect holidays, perfect smiles and perfect lives.

But you know what?

Life isn’t perfect.

It’s full of ups and downs.  Successes and failures.  Good times and bad times.

And if you cling to perfectionism you’ll never take risks.  Because risks can lead to failure.

However…

Inaction leads nowhere. 

So when it came to Countdown I figured…what’s the worst that can happen?

I might make a fool of myself and look a bit silly. 

But you have to be okay with that.

You shouldn’t take yourself too seriously.  And you can’t let fear rule your life.

This leads me on to point number 2….

2. The benefits of preparation run a lot deeper than you think

I spent weeks preparing in the run up to filming.

Learning lists of unusual words, practising multiplication tables and training with an app.

So I was well-rehearsed and had hundreds of useful words at my fingertips.

But I realised preparation goes a lot deeper than this.

Let me explain…

When you’re well prepared, you feel more confident.

Confidence builds resourcefulness...  

And this resourcefulness is crucial when life doesn’t go as expected.

Because things will always come from left-field which you can’t prepare for…

And the resourcefulness will help you deal with these moments.

Case in point…

On the show I came up against a 7-time winner.  He was obviously a tough cookie.

I discovered this an hour before filming...  

And this could've knocked me off course.    

But being well prepared meant I had clarity and flexibility on my side.

And when he started to take the lead I was able to change strategy.

Now, it didn’t work out this time.  My opponent beat me fair and square.

But I know I gave myself the best chance.

And because the benefits of preparation go deeper than the things I prepared…

I know this will help me in business and in life.

Worth bearing in mind.

3. Not everything needs a reward

I told my friends before I went on the show…

And a lot of them asked what I could win.

At the time I thought this question was strange.

I applied for Countdown for the challenge and the experience...  

Winning a prize hadn’t even crossed my mind.

If I wanted a big prize, Countdown was the WORST choice…

(if you don’t know, all you win is a teapot)

On most quiz shows you’ll win a few bob.  Maybe even a holiday or a car.

On some you can win life changing cash.

And that’s why most people apply for quiz shows.  To walk away with a big payday.

But it doesn’t have to be this way.

Not everything we do in life is to get a reward.

Sometimes the thing we do is the reward itself…

Like reading a great book.  Catching up with a friend.  Or watching the sun set.

We do these for their own merits.

There doesn’t always have to be a bigger reason to do something…

In fact, I’d go so far to say that it’s more worthwhile doing things which don’t have a reward.

When we do something for the sake of the thing itself, we’re being true to ourselves…

And this is when we are happiest.

On to point 4…

4. You create your own opportunities

I’d never have gone on Countdown if I hadn’t quit my job.

I simply wouldn’t have had the energy or the time.

Now, did I quit my job just so I could go on Countdown?

Far from it.

But it was a happy by-product.

When I quit my job I realised I had some time on my side.

And I started to ask questions I’d never asked before.

Like “What do I actually want to do next month?”

And I thought Countdown would be a lot of fun.

This made me realise - making a change will always lead to unexpected opportunities.

And possibilities you never could’ve predicted.

In other words, you’re creating more room in your life for serendipity.

And this can only be a good thing.

I’ve had an experience I never would have had if I didn’t quit my job…

And I’m grateful for that.

This takes me on to the last point...

5. You can do anything you want.  But you can’t do everything you want

This is kinda similar. 

The consultant David Allen has a famous quote:

“You can do anything.  But not everything”.

Now, I don’t think this is true for everyone.

But it's true for a lot of people.

You really can choose to do anything…

Like start a new business.  Travel the world.  Learn a new language.  Get in the best shape of their life.  Or go on a TV quiz show.

But you can’t do everything.  Because doing one thing means you’re not doing something else.

And eventually you'll run out of time.

Pretty obvious right?

This was a huge factor in my decision to quit my job.

I worked 8, 10, 12 hours a day for 13 years…

And one day it dawned on me how much time I’d given up.  And what else I could’ve done with this time.

Now, most of us need to earn a living so we can put food on the table and pay the bills.

But are there ways to work smarter, with more balance, using less time?

Absolutely.

The sad thing is - some people spend their whole lives doing the wrong things. 

They never do what they actually want to do.  Even though they have the chance to do anything they’d like.

Why?

Because they don’t know what they want.  Or they do know, but they do nothing about it.

And in the blink of an eye, it’s too late.

Something to think about.

That’s all I’ve got for you today.

Enjoy your day.

- Tom

p.s. Do you have goals in your work or your life where you'd like some support?  Or problems you'd like help solving?  If so, why not book a short call with me to see if (or how) I can help.  The link is here.  I’d love to chat.