Yes, I mean it: most of you are planning to fail and here’s why starting with the biggest, and most common problem:
You Want to SUCCEED!
If I told you to work hard to earn money so you can buy a ticket to fly to a place, take a cab to a big field and enjoy, would you do it?
Now, what if I told you to work your guts out for long hours so you can buy a ticket to fly to San Francisco and take a cab to your 100 acre hillside retreat in Napa Valley with a 3,000 Square Ft. Victorian meets Modern home, three guest houses AND a not-for-profit kids camp for children of AIDS victims?
Both of them are examples of success, but would you work for?
The problem with wanting to succeed is that it’s just like my first question, it means nothing. What does “succeed” look like? What does it pay? When is it “done?” How much will it cost? How will you know you’ve arrived?
Without a clear tangible explanation of your personal definition of success you will NEVER put in the time, efforts and energy needed to get what you want. You’ll work hard – probably very hard – but your work work will be:
- Unfocused: You’ll work on everything because you won’t know what’s important and what’s not.
- Unrewarding: You’ll have small victories but you’ll have no idea if they are leading in the right direction.
- Unsuccessful: You’ll have a life with some victories instead of a life full of successes leading to ultimate success.
I can forgive you wanting to succeed though because of your other big problem:
You’re Talented
Up to this point in your life, everyone who loves and supports you has said: “You’re so talented, you should be a STAR” and, “You have WAY more talent than so-and-so. If THEY can make it, you’ll make it too!” You therefore believe the secret to success is talent.
They lied.
Talent alone will not make you a star and there will always be someone better than you.
You Have NO Plan
Lastly, with a vague goal of “succeeding” and a total reliance on talent, it’s no wonder that you don’t have a plan.
Don’t get all defensive before you read what I call a plan:
A set of actionable goals with specific results that allow you to boldly, confidently and effectively work towards a clearly defined destination driven by a vision and mission based on who you are and the life you have to live.
So?
Unless you have all 8 parts, you are planning to fail.
What parts do you have well defined? Sorta defined? Not at all? Whatchya gonna do about that?
