Magic, or chance?

Many years ago I worked with a magician who taught me a lot about producing events. Together we created Haunted Houses, Parties and events as well as on-going attractions in Casinos. 

There was one trick he did on a whim that always stuck with me. It was the 'coin toss'. We were at an event, and he had a wooden nickel that they have given him. He took it, showed me both sides were unmarked, flipped it in the air and shot at it with his hand as if he had a gun. When the wooden nickel hit the ground, it had a black mark on the side facing up, resembling a bullet hole.

Then it was my turn to tell him how the trick was done:
ME: "You did a slight of hand to show me the same side of the coin, and make it look like I was seeing both sides." 
HIM: "Correct"
ME: "Then how did you know it would land with the side that had the mark facing up?"
HIM: "I didn't. That part I gambled on..."
ME: "So if it had landed with the unmarked side up, then what would you have done."
HIM: "I don't know - but it didn't happen that way. The trick worked. If it didn't, I'd have figured out something else..."

As I learned with a lot of magic tricks, there is a certain amount of bluff and confidence that it will work the way you thought it would. And there is a lot of being sure of yourself to make whatever happens look like it's what you wanted to have happen.

When I speak to people about their leadership style, I sometimes hear people say "I am not sure what I am doing, or if what I am doing is the right thing." I think we all have times of self doubt about the next action we are about to take, or the next proposal for a client, or the next initiative we are putting forth. And the truth is, it may not work. If we understand the risks involved, and agree to move forward with confidence anyway, then we will make whatever happens work. Not trying the trick because it might fail is the only real failure.


So remember the rules:
How do I do this?  - JUST DO IT
Am I doing it right?  - YES


See where it takes you.

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