Motivation ABC

In seeking success, most of us in business, have encountered the upside and downside of the responsibility undertaken by us. When times are good, we proudly proclaim that the success of the mission is directly propotionate to the the skills within each. Yet, when things are not as smooth as they should or could be, we have the tendency to find excuses / reasons as  if to justify why it’s NOT directly proportionate to the skills within us. Traditional excuses include luck, weather, environment, dependence on third parties. When necessary, take stock of the very excuses given by most, so that next time around, they pre-plan by finding ways and means to cater to the vagaries of luck, weather, environment, etc.

Next time around assuming they do not achieve the planned success, having had catered to the traditional excuses, they will be able to ascertain the reasons this time around, allowing them to strengthen their business plan by using their acumen to verify what the obstacle was. Persistently planning action in such fashion, will bring out the Gold from within yourself for with every attempt, instead of believing the excuses (which incidentally may have been absolutely valid), you take into account the different parameters that could be a downside to the event and have back-up contingent plans in the event something unexpected does crop up.

In a nutshell, your successes and your failures are only tempered or spiced, by vagaries and uncertainties that abound. The main course is and always has been you. So take any major event in your business that has shown a downside, list all the reasons you believe caused such. Even at this point, verify how you would have been able to handle such a situation if you had previous knowledge of such an eventuality.

By practicing this, you have started mining the Ore within you - such that the gold within you starts to accumulate and finally spills over - Many wait for years to find a golden opportunity to taste Success - while you using your past experience with analytical skills and acumen bring out the golden opportunity from within yourself - over and over again.

Your golden opportunity has arrived. You are reading it now. Use your analytical skills and acumen to ascertain how the successful differ from the not so successful. You will find that the successful take full responsibility, more so for the downside encountered learning from each lesson learned; instead of allowing the vagaries to be their master, they master the uncertainties while the less successful wallow in self pity truly believing in the excuses that they proffer and doing nothing to counter same.

This brings to mind a motivational saying by Orison Swett Mardon; “The Golden opportunity you are seeking is in yourself; it is in yourself alone.”

All your life, your parents probably told you that your dreams could come true.  They likely told you that if you worked hard you could make your dreams come to life.  The idea of dreams coming true has been romanticized in movies and in the media.  The stark reality of pursuing your dreams is that it is probably one of the scariest things that you will ever do.  The risk is much higher than other pursuits that do not tie up your emotions the way that dreams and passions do.

The legendary Walt Disney said, “All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them.”  It is that courage that can cause us to falter on our path.  If we stick our necks out there, so to speak, we not only risk failure, but also losing something that we have been carrying in our hearts for a long time.  It is this fear that stops many people from pursuing their dream job or dream career.  They opt for the safe path instead of the one less traveled.  They choose the secure, albeit dull, career as opposed to the one that ignites their passions.  And this is very sad indeed.

It can be scary to step out of the safety of the shadows and embark on a challenging adventure into the unknown, but think about it.  If Walt Disney had not done it we would not have the wonderful children’s classics that we do today.  If Bill Gates had not dared to dream and reached out to pursue it we would not have much of the technology that we do today.  Look at your favorite writers, artists, musicians, singers and actors.  Had they not possessed the courage to dream and pursue their dreams we would be living in a colorless world without the beautiful contributions that they have made.

Pursuing your dreams is an incredible growth experience.  The first step is the most difficult, but if you take it and stay the course, will find yourself stronger, wiser and more secure in yourself.  If you maintain a positive attitude and view each obstacle in your path as a challenge and opportunity for growth, you will find that you approach a rocky path to success with excitement and optimism.  These qualities will carry far in the pursuit of your dreams.  And these things require courage.  You have to have guts to step out there and risk failure, risk losing your dream.  That is just a reality.  But courage will carry you far if you are wise and proceed thoughtfully and mindfully.

Find the courage within yourself and reach out to grasp your dream.  You can make it a reality and in the process find yourself wiser, smarter, happier and more self confident because you stepped out there to face the risk and all of the scary things that come with it. The courageous step forward to make their dreams real.  The others stay in the shadows where they are safe - while they work for those courageous souls who stepped out of their comfort zone and make pursued their dreams and saw them to fruition.  Which group are you in?