It was in 1996 that I plunged into a side business. I had no background, and little training. And of course, it became a failure. But I learned that "it" was not the one that failed. It was "me" who failed. Those were tough words to own up to. I watched others who knew exactly what they were doing. And I asked myself: "What does it take to become successful like them? Why wasn't I blessed with their talents? How do I earn that kind of money?" I had to admitI was clueless. Then one side business led to another, which led to more failures. It wasn't the failures that disturbed me as much as not knowing why I failed. Then I was introduced to self-development: getting coached from success leaders who walked their talk. I must confessI wasn't a big fan. I hadn't picked up any books since college, and "reading" was no longer in my vocabulary. But I highly respected my friend who introduced me. He said, "Listen to these tapes and tell me what you think." It's because of those circumstances that I'm writing you today. You see, I had chosen my vision and was living it. Little did I knowit was a tiny one. My job paid well, but I became braindead. My mind turned into mush. The repetitive patterns subdued my right-brain creativity. Or more accurately, it testifed I had little brainwave activity to begin with. I devoured the books and tapes, took on a few mentors, and became a serious student. But this time, I chose my faculty and my courses. I didn't have to pick from a limited school list. I played tapes while driving to work, read books during my breaks, and booked flights to attend seminars. I learned to invest in myself, break bad habits, and change course. I have to admitchange isn't fun. Just necessary. So I traded my tiny vision for a larger one. I knew I had found my calling. A calling I couldn't see before. And I bet you have a larger vision than the one you're living. You have dreams and goals that have been latent for years. You know it's easier going lateral than vertical. And you have layers of hidden fears... of failure... and success. Which is why I'm writing you... I have been where you are now. I have struggled with the same stuff you do. And I have transformed from a person who didn't believe in myself, to a person who helps people strenthen theirs. So I have to ask, "What are you failing at lately?" If you're not failing at allyou may not be trying very hard. You're comfortable in your comfort zone. You're guilty of taking baby steps and not venturing from the crib. Which means your one-year goal has now become a seven-year goal. The Mercedes you wanted doesn't come in your color. And of course, it's childish to show up the Joneses. Hogwash! Failing is part of the success equation. Everyone fails. But only those who get back up have a real chance at reaping the rewards. Please don't make failure your goal, but picture it as the ultimate teacher. Once you've gone through it, sort it inside a folder. Just like this e-zine. So don't treat failure as an enemy or something to avoid. It will come. The secret is not giving up at the first sign of disappointment. Keep focused on your goals and you'll learn to leverage failure to your advantage. |
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