To move forward in life demands the risk of self-esteem, ego, financial gain or security. You have to be willing to risk yourself — pure and simple. If you are to assume the risk that progress demands, it may be to your advantage to reflect, study, internalize and then accept the costs associated with the risk.
Work to learn of your true strengths. Apply them to become distinctive in your chosen field of endeavor. Becoming distinctive is a process; it is not, in most cases, an event. It is a “way”, a standard, not an occurrence. It is a bar we set, a standard we must meet or eclipse.
Choose not to establish your criteria for success or excellence based on the relative standard of another’s performance. Choose not to compare yourself to others. Instead, focus on that which you must make happen and then take the steps to do it! The offspring of committed, directed activity is realized by others through your words and actions. You either have less, but rarely more, than you commit to “make and take.”
Subset A) Above all, avoid the need to blame others. Excuses are a weak person’s crutch — a mask for deficiencies of commitment. All you control at the end of each day and the start of a new tomorrow — is your attitude. Stop working on things that don’t matter. (And there’s a whole lot of “stuff” that doesn’t matter.) Because we’re talking about life, setbacks will occur. When they do, ask, “What can I do different or better the next time?” Learn and apply. Subset B) Don’t blame condition, market forces or people for the outcome. Assume personal responsibility and accountability in thought and action.
To say you will do something and come up short, generates a loss of confidence in yourself and others as it frays integrity and saps your willpower. Over time, I’ve seen people make bold-ass proclamations, fail in the execution of the promise, and eventually settle for what the world gives them. People may console weakness, but for the most part, they don’t want to partner with it. What the world “gives” you is often much less than you think you deserve. You will earn, with few exceptions, what you are worthy of receiving. If you believe this, then now is the time to take those steps necessary to learn, prepare, test, assume and try — make your effort a product of resolve and knowledge — increase in your life follows.
Some of these thoughts may be harsh, but I have found the resistance to good is found in the dark side of human nature. I came out of the back woods of Western Pennsylvania with three things: self-belief, energy and willpower. I knew if it was to be, it was up to me. No excuses — I would either forge my way forward or come back on my shield — no retreat, one way — Always Forward! I didn’t have a flashlight or a clue to get me out of those woods, but I did have a fear — a fear of staying there. A fear of spending the rest of my life wondering, “What if?” Ask yourself three questions: “What if?”, “Why not?” and “When?” and move forward to answer all three.
If I was going to make it — I had to earn it before I could take it. If you think others are more worthy of the reward, then why pursue it? Build your self-belief. Build it on a foundation that is imbued with people skills, empathy and the residue of learning’s quest.
Learn to listen to the “devil’s advocate” or those people who can bring light to your blind spots. Know the ones you can trust. Trust in those whose actions are consistent and in alignment with their professed values. Trust in those who deal from the top of the value deck. Find those people — and they are in great supply — who can help keep our egos in check. Believe me, I need an army of them. Appreciate the significance of that person who can show you the weakness of your position, the vulnerability in your strategy, and the deficiency of your tactics.
Don’t hope for success. Become absorbed in the “game”. Do what it takes to master your craft. Make a commitment to yourself — channel your inner Nike “swoosh” — and just do it!
Make it happen!
The winners in life are dreamers, idealists, visionaries and creators. Know that dreams become reality when excuses go out the door and hard work, applied knowledge and empathy enter. Own the belief that if it’s to be, it’s up to me!
Always move forward! Conviction comes from self-belief and confidence and confidence comes from competence and knowledge. Let your mirror reflect a healthy and positive self-image. Fear and doubt are a part of human nature. Don’t try to avoid the presence of either; it’s a wasted use of the precious resource that is your energy. Do, however, summon the fortitude and take the steps necessary to alleviate the feeling of helplessness and inertia that accompanies both.
Own the belief that if it’s to be, it’s up to me!
Your word is your bond. Get out in front of a problem, anticipate an issue before it festers and meet face-to-face with people whenever possible — extend the effort to move a relationship forward. Don’t rest on past success. Nothing can exist in a vacuum. People are the reason for our success. When you engage with authenticity of intent and conviction of purpose, you change the game for people.
By nature of this dynamic, you change the game for yourself.
