Whether it’s the right place at the wrong time, the wrong place at the right time, the right place at the right time, or the wrong place at the wrong time, being in the right POSITION can have an impact on reaching a goal.
In chess, POSITION refers to the locations of every piece and how they are moved to a new location to help win the game. It sounds simple, yet each piece comes with its own unique role and purpose. In chess, the rules are solid and predictable; in the game of life, not so much.
There are many times in my life when I was blessed with being in the right place at the right time. Being in the precise POSITION has influenced family and friend relationships, including meeting my wife, and job offers, just to name some.
I did not fully realize it at the time, but I was in the right POSITION in December 2001. That was the time when my wife and her sister decided to join an organization called TOPS. Prior to being part of the conversation about joining TOPS that December, my POSITION on health was not that great. I was definitely in the wrong place. But we all joined in January 2002.
During my first chapter meeting, I took the POSITION that this was not going to be for me. I tried to hide in the background, which now sounds bizarre, because how do you hide a 321-pound man? At the time, I was not sure what to do. I questioned the sincerity of the process as people were singing songs and coloring contest forms, and it took a bit of time to have an actual discussion on weight loss.
Do you remember the POSITION you were in before you joined TOPS? Do you remember that first meeting? Has your POSITION improved? Mine has unquestionably improved. Sure, it required taking that first OPENING and setting a STRATEGY, but my POSITION did improve.
What is the POSITION of your chapter? With the obesity rates rising, I cannot help imagining that there are many people looking to improve their health POSITION. Do you have individuals visit once, and then you never hear from them again? They may have the same thoughts I had.
What helped me be in the right POSITION and stick with it was my wife. But not everyone visits a meeting for the first time with an automatic supporter by their side. So, consider being that person for someone you already know or for someone new visiting your chapter.
As an organization based on educating, supporting and accountability, we need to improve our POSITION to keep members by enhancing the TOPS chapter experience.
What is your POSITION?
