One of my favorite quotes by Abraham Lincoln is... "You cannot help the poor by taking from the rich." I know, I know, it is not politically correct to say that everyone does not deserve to be well off. However, everyone does not "deserve" to be well off. When I was in High School, I made pretty much all A's. I believe I made a B for a 6-Weeks on two occasions. There were, however, people who made C's all through high school. Some did not study. Some did not care. Some worked hard but simply could not get better grades. I remember one guy that had a "16" average in Biology. He decided it was not worth it and tried to make a "0" for the next six weeks. The teacher refused to give him a "0" unless he got absolutely everything wrong. On his second try, he even got his own name spelled wrong. By the logic of taking from people who are successful to give to people who are less successful, the teacher should have taken my 98 in Biology and reduced it to a 70, still allowing me to pass, but giving 28 of my points to the other guy. He then should have taken as many other students down to a 70 as necessary to get the guy to a passing grade, giving our points to him, regardless of whether or not he tried. If that had been done, how long would it take for the "successful" people to realize that there was no point. You could do nothing and get a 70, or you could work your butt off and get a 70. Either way, you were getting a 70.
I think what Lincoln was saying is that there must be a reward for hard work and success, not a punishment. I have accomplished my goals by looking at what other successful people have done and are doing, and striving to be like them. We have to have people to look up to. We have to appreciate those who are more successful than us, wealthier than us, and have achieved more than us. If we are angry or jealous of their success, we won't ever get there ourselves.
Would Michael Jordan have had so many fans if his points were evenly distributed among the players who scored fewer points during the game?
Our society was set up to encourage success, not to discourage it. We need to have more dreams, not fewer. We need to get away from creating a collective mediocrity and realize that people who work hard, catch breaks, push themselves, put in the hours, innovate and create, really do deserve to be WELL compensated for their efforts.
You cannot help the poor by taking from the rich... Abraham Lincoln
To Your Success!
Jody Holland
www.murfsystems.com
jody@murfsystems.com
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Thursday, November 25, 2010
Stages to Build Your Confidence
Each person in life has a career path and an educational path that is right for them. Think back to what you were good at as a kid. What was it that you did that you could not wait to practice, to play, or to do more often? What you find is that each person became "good" or even "great" at something because they enjoyed doing it and therefore spent time in practice. While it's true that some people are "naturally" good at certain activities, even those "naturally" good have had practice.
There are four stages that a person goes through in mastering a skillset. Don't get frustrated that you aren't perfect at something the first time. Keep focused on making it through the four stages in a logical progression.
The four stages are...
Stage 1 is being unconsciously unskilled. In this stage of learning a person does not know whether they are good or not at a skill. An example would be the first time that a person sees others playing golf. To watch Tiger Woods play golf, one would think that it was easy.
Stage 2 is consciously unskilled. After picking up a set of golf clubs for the first time and heading to the golf course, a person can quickly realize that hitting a golf ball requires more skill than it appears.
Stage 3 is consciously skilled. After some frustration with trying to master a skill, a person gets direction, education, and focus from others. This help creates a system or a skill-set that, when focused on, can help a person achieve, as long as they focus on the skills they have learned. Confidence really begins to build in this stage and propels a person to stage 4.
Stage 4 is unconsciously skilled. In this stage, enough practice, coaching, education, and evaluation has happened that implementing a skill is no longer something that has to be focused on. It is now a natural extension of the person. When a person can implement a skill without having to think about what they are doing, confidence flourishes.
None of this happens without effort though. It takes moving through the stages in order to feel that one can accomplish anything. Never forget that overnight successes usually work for five to ten years before their "overnight" success happens.
There are four stages that a person goes through in mastering a skillset. Don't get frustrated that you aren't perfect at something the first time. Keep focused on making it through the four stages in a logical progression.
The four stages are...
Stage 1 is being unconsciously unskilled. In this stage of learning a person does not know whether they are good or not at a skill. An example would be the first time that a person sees others playing golf. To watch Tiger Woods play golf, one would think that it was easy.
Stage 2 is consciously unskilled. After picking up a set of golf clubs for the first time and heading to the golf course, a person can quickly realize that hitting a golf ball requires more skill than it appears.
Stage 3 is consciously skilled. After some frustration with trying to master a skill, a person gets direction, education, and focus from others. This help creates a system or a skill-set that, when focused on, can help a person achieve, as long as they focus on the skills they have learned. Confidence really begins to build in this stage and propels a person to stage 4.
Stage 4 is unconsciously skilled. In this stage, enough practice, coaching, education, and evaluation has happened that implementing a skill is no longer something that has to be focused on. It is now a natural extension of the person. When a person can implement a skill without having to think about what they are doing, confidence flourishes.
None of this happens without effort though. It takes moving through the stages in order to feel that one can accomplish anything. Never forget that overnight successes usually work for five to ten years before their "overnight" success happens.
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Your Life Plan
Your Life Plan
There are three (3) basic aspects of creating a plan for your life. You have to consider your desired outcomes, your priorities, and the actions that must be taken. If you are seeking the right direction for your future, you have to know where you are right now. All throughout your life, you will have options. The choices that you make will bring you the outcomes that you achieve. Keep reading below to see what basic steps to take in order to lay out a plan for your life.
Desired Outcomes
Take a few minutes and write down what you believe your current strengths are. What is it that you are really good at right now? What level of education do you currently have? What skills do you possess that you believe could be applied in any job or career? Now, write down what you would like for your life to look like in five (5) years, one (1) year, or whatever time you would like to picture for the future. Instead of saying, "A year from now, I will be, do, have, etc." write it as if you are already there in the future. If today is October 12, 2009, the say... "Today is October 12, 2010 and I have, have achieved, have attained, etc." If you can create a picture of the future vividly in your mind, then you can simply life into that picture. You have to write down where you intend to be though. You can't just think about how good it would be to get there some day. You have to pick a time-frame in which you will achieve your desired outcomes.
Your Priorities
What is that you want to be know for when you are no longer here on this earth? The "tombstone test" is the idea of writing down the things that others would put on your tombstone or in your obituary. Will you be remembered as a great parent,a great sibling, a hard worker, a top performer, or a slacker, a wanderer, someone who did not find their direction in life. Understanding where you ought to end up in life has to do with understanding what you "want" others to say about you some day. You will find that you are the happiest when what you do for a living is in line with how you define your life. You will find yourself unhappy and possibliy even depressed when you are working at something that you consider unimportant. People are hard-wired to need that sense of purpose in life. You will also find that you achieve the highest levels of success when you are doing what you love. Take a few minutes and write down what values you believe define you right now and what values you want others to see in you. Then, write down the things in your life that you currently spend the most money and time on and which ones you feel deserve the majority of your finances and attention. Finally, write out what you are willing to give in order to ensure that you achieve your priorities and desired outcomes. Nothing in life is free, so you must be willing to sacrafice something in order to achieve your goals.
Actions To Take
Perhaps the most important aspect of mapping out your life is to take focused action. Once you know your desired outcomes and have outlined your priorities, you will need to lay out specific actions that must be taken. For example, if you want to make more money, you will need to decide if that can happen in your current position or if you will need to look at alternatives career choices. You will need to review your current educational achievements, what you have done for work, and where you want to be in the future. If you are unsure of what career you should pursue or what you are most likely to succeed at, it is a great idea to participate in a career assessment. The Workforce Readiness Tool is designed to take into account your style of thinking, your workplace interests, and your personality. If you want to be sure you take the right actions, the following is a good outline of what to do...
1. Write out your strengths and current abilities.
2. Take a career assessment to identify educational, career, and talent directions that you are likely to succeed at.
3. Explore the educational and career options that are laid out for you.
4. Interview / talk with people who are in the career or job you are matched up to.
5. Get the necessary education.
6. Work as a top performer in the career path you have chosen.
7. Stay focused on doing what you love!
To summarize, begin with the end in mind. Map out what your current strengths are and then assess yourself with a career profile. Explore your career options and work toward the that goal. Keep a picture of what your life can and will be like at a certain point in the future. Keep it in the forefront of your thought.
There are three (3) basic aspects of creating a plan for your life. You have to consider your desired outcomes, your priorities, and the actions that must be taken. If you are seeking the right direction for your future, you have to know where you are right now. All throughout your life, you will have options. The choices that you make will bring you the outcomes that you achieve. Keep reading below to see what basic steps to take in order to lay out a plan for your life.
Desired Outcomes
Take a few minutes and write down what you believe your current strengths are. What is it that you are really good at right now? What level of education do you currently have? What skills do you possess that you believe could be applied in any job or career? Now, write down what you would like for your life to look like in five (5) years, one (1) year, or whatever time you would like to picture for the future. Instead of saying, "A year from now, I will be, do, have, etc." write it as if you are already there in the future. If today is October 12, 2009, the say... "Today is October 12, 2010 and I have, have achieved, have attained, etc." If you can create a picture of the future vividly in your mind, then you can simply life into that picture. You have to write down where you intend to be though. You can't just think about how good it would be to get there some day. You have to pick a time-frame in which you will achieve your desired outcomes.
Your Priorities
What is that you want to be know for when you are no longer here on this earth? The "tombstone test" is the idea of writing down the things that others would put on your tombstone or in your obituary. Will you be remembered as a great parent,a great sibling, a hard worker, a top performer, or a slacker, a wanderer, someone who did not find their direction in life. Understanding where you ought to end up in life has to do with understanding what you "want" others to say about you some day. You will find that you are the happiest when what you do for a living is in line with how you define your life. You will find yourself unhappy and possibliy even depressed when you are working at something that you consider unimportant. People are hard-wired to need that sense of purpose in life. You will also find that you achieve the highest levels of success when you are doing what you love. Take a few minutes and write down what values you believe define you right now and what values you want others to see in you. Then, write down the things in your life that you currently spend the most money and time on and which ones you feel deserve the majority of your finances and attention. Finally, write out what you are willing to give in order to ensure that you achieve your priorities and desired outcomes. Nothing in life is free, so you must be willing to sacrafice something in order to achieve your goals.
Actions To Take
Perhaps the most important aspect of mapping out your life is to take focused action. Once you know your desired outcomes and have outlined your priorities, you will need to lay out specific actions that must be taken. For example, if you want to make more money, you will need to decide if that can happen in your current position or if you will need to look at alternatives career choices. You will need to review your current educational achievements, what you have done for work, and where you want to be in the future. If you are unsure of what career you should pursue or what you are most likely to succeed at, it is a great idea to participate in a career assessment. The Workforce Readiness Tool is designed to take into account your style of thinking, your workplace interests, and your personality. If you want to be sure you take the right actions, the following is a good outline of what to do...
1. Write out your strengths and current abilities.
2. Take a career assessment to identify educational, career, and talent directions that you are likely to succeed at.
3. Explore the educational and career options that are laid out for you.
4. Interview / talk with people who are in the career or job you are matched up to.
5. Get the necessary education.
6. Work as a top performer in the career path you have chosen.
7. Stay focused on doing what you love!
To summarize, begin with the end in mind. Map out what your current strengths are and then assess yourself with a career profile. Explore your career options and work toward the that goal. Keep a picture of what your life can and will be like at a certain point in the future. Keep it in the forefront of your thought.
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Self Management
You must be able to manage yourself before you can lead others.
One of my college professors used to tell me... "Those who cannot do, teach." It was funny to hear her say that, but it was not until some 15years after college that her comments, which I had repeated on numerous occasions, really sank in. There are a number of people in this world that have been given the honor of being in charge, but have not learned how to actually accomplish the leadership side of being in charge. I think that my professor was taking a different angle on "The Peter Principle." She was really saying that being in game of business is not easy, and many of us will hide behind either teaching, or bad management to avoid taking a real look at who we are and what we offer, or do not offer, as leaders.
One key to being a great leader, perhaps the most important, is to avoid self-deception. Self-deception is the art of not admitting our own weaknesses, blaming others for our shortcomings, and not accepting responsibility for our part in what is not going right. We must evaluate ourselves every day, and I mean really be honest about who we are.
If you have something that you are not doing well, be honorable enough to admit it and seek assistance from others. How great would it be for a leader to say... "I am not actually very good at that, but you are. Will you help me?" Most employees are looking for the opportunity to shine, but will gladly step back into the shadows when they don't believe that their leader cares about them, or that the leader is a glory hog.
To be effective at self-management...
1. Be honest about your weaknesses.
2. Evaluate yourself regularly.
3. Learn as much as you can about your personality and tendencies, then manage your behaviors.
To your success!
Jody Holland
www.murfsystems.com
murfsystems.blogspot.com
jody@murfsystems.com
One of my college professors used to tell me... "Those who cannot do, teach." It was funny to hear her say that, but it was not until some 15years after college that her comments, which I had repeated on numerous occasions, really sank in. There are a number of people in this world that have been given the honor of being in charge, but have not learned how to actually accomplish the leadership side of being in charge. I think that my professor was taking a different angle on "The Peter Principle." She was really saying that being in game of business is not easy, and many of us will hide behind either teaching, or bad management to avoid taking a real look at who we are and what we offer, or do not offer, as leaders.
One key to being a great leader, perhaps the most important, is to avoid self-deception. Self-deception is the art of not admitting our own weaknesses, blaming others for our shortcomings, and not accepting responsibility for our part in what is not going right. We must evaluate ourselves every day, and I mean really be honest about who we are.
If you have something that you are not doing well, be honorable enough to admit it and seek assistance from others. How great would it be for a leader to say... "I am not actually very good at that, but you are. Will you help me?" Most employees are looking for the opportunity to shine, but will gladly step back into the shadows when they don't believe that their leader cares about them, or that the leader is a glory hog.
To be effective at self-management...
1. Be honest about your weaknesses.
2. Evaluate yourself regularly.
3. Learn as much as you can about your personality and tendencies, then manage your behaviors.
To your success!
Jody Holland
www.murfsystems.com
murfsystems.blogspot.com
jody@murfsystems.com
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Tough Times
Tough times never last, but tough people do.
I have seen several ups and downs in the roller coaster of entrepreneurship. After 9-11, business across this country tightened their belts and quickly cut training budgets, afraid of what reductions in business they might face. This made 2002 a pretty rough year. A number of training and development companies that I was aware of went out of business in the 14 months following 9-11. At the time, I was reminded of what W. Clement Stone had taught Napoleon Hill, and what he wrote about in "The Science of Success." The words... "This too shall pass" rang in my mind and helped me to realize that the bad times would go away. The lesson that I learned is that you can never rest on your successes. You must always be ready to innovate and change in order to stay on top of the game.
The trick is that "This too shall pass" counts for the good times and the bad. Learning to business in any economy is the key to continuous success. It is not the good times that we have that shape us, but ALL of the times that we have. You can almost picture it like you are the medal being shaped by a blacksmith and the challenges you face are the fire and hammer. Although we are often on the anvil, being beaten up and shoved into the fire, we come out more purified, more committed, and stronger in the end.
The key is to have the resolve to NEVER give up. You must keep your will solid and always remember that you can handle more than you think. The purifying fires of the trials we face are what make us great in the end.
Tough times don't last, but tough people do!
To your success,
Jody Holland
MuRF Systems
www.murfsystems.com
jody@murfsystems.com
I have seen several ups and downs in the roller coaster of entrepreneurship. After 9-11, business across this country tightened their belts and quickly cut training budgets, afraid of what reductions in business they might face. This made 2002 a pretty rough year. A number of training and development companies that I was aware of went out of business in the 14 months following 9-11. At the time, I was reminded of what W. Clement Stone had taught Napoleon Hill, and what he wrote about in "The Science of Success." The words... "This too shall pass" rang in my mind and helped me to realize that the bad times would go away. The lesson that I learned is that you can never rest on your successes. You must always be ready to innovate and change in order to stay on top of the game.
The trick is that "This too shall pass" counts for the good times and the bad. Learning to business in any economy is the key to continuous success. It is not the good times that we have that shape us, but ALL of the times that we have. You can almost picture it like you are the medal being shaped by a blacksmith and the challenges you face are the fire and hammer. Although we are often on the anvil, being beaten up and shoved into the fire, we come out more purified, more committed, and stronger in the end.
The key is to have the resolve to NEVER give up. You must keep your will solid and always remember that you can handle more than you think. The purifying fires of the trials we face are what make us great in the end.
Tough times don't last, but tough people do!
To your success,
Jody Holland
MuRF Systems
www.murfsystems.com
jody@murfsystems.com
Thursday, November 11, 2010
The Price of Success...
I have heard people say that the price of success is simply too great. These are generally the individuals who are either frustrated by how hard they have worked and are not getting results, or those who have watched others worked too imbalanced and lose the personal side of success. Success is defined by each person as an individual. Failure, on the other hand, is defined the same way across the board. To fail is to not achieve the goals that you have set for yourself, or worse, to not set goals at all. The price we pay for succeeding will always pail in comparison to the price of failing.
The challenge that I would have for you is to define YOUR success in terms of the following four categories. You should have clearly defined goals in...
Family and Friends
Spirituality
Self
Business and Money
They key to being happy when you find your definition of success is to understand how to balance things out. People who balk at those who have achieved success are simply hurting themselves. Instead of being jealous, upset, or irritated by others, ask yourself... "What can I learn from this person?" Then, clearly define what success is going to mean to you.
I would challenge you to create a dream board with each of the four categories covered. Come up with 2 or 3 pictures that represent goals in each of the above areas. Some examples might be a picture of a dream vacation spot to go along with your family goal, or a picture of a cap and gown for self if you wish to further your education. Our brain thinks in pictures, not words, so setting pictures of your overall success instead of simply writing them out will give you an advantage by making the visualization process easier. Then, place this dream board in a prominent place where you will see it every day, ideally even several times per day.
Never forget that the price we pay for failure is ALWAYS greater than the price we pay for success!
To your success!
T. Jody Holland
806-410-0375
www.murfsystems.com
jody@murfsystems.com
The challenge that I would have for you is to define YOUR success in terms of the following four categories. You should have clearly defined goals in...
Family and Friends
Spirituality
Self
Business and Money
They key to being happy when you find your definition of success is to understand how to balance things out. People who balk at those who have achieved success are simply hurting themselves. Instead of being jealous, upset, or irritated by others, ask yourself... "What can I learn from this person?" Then, clearly define what success is going to mean to you.
I would challenge you to create a dream board with each of the four categories covered. Come up with 2 or 3 pictures that represent goals in each of the above areas. Some examples might be a picture of a dream vacation spot to go along with your family goal, or a picture of a cap and gown for self if you wish to further your education. Our brain thinks in pictures, not words, so setting pictures of your overall success instead of simply writing them out will give you an advantage by making the visualization process easier. Then, place this dream board in a prominent place where you will see it every day, ideally even several times per day.
Never forget that the price we pay for failure is ALWAYS greater than the price we pay for success!
To your success!
T. Jody Holland
806-410-0375
www.murfsystems.com
jody@murfsystems.com
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
James Dean and Entrepreneurs
"Dream as if you'll live forever. Live as if you'll die today."
I think that James Dean had something when he said this. He lived his life to the fullest. He took risks. He tried things that other people did not think made sense. He truly defined who he was as a person and lived that image in every way, shape, and form. He branded himself forever in this world as a result of that style of living.
I think that we are missing this component in our society as a whole, but particularly in business. People seem to spend so much time trying to ensure that they don't "color outside the lines" that they miss a lot of the beauty of life. True entrepreneurs are the risk takers, the rebels, the defiant ones in this world. They look at life and claim all the experiences that they wish to have.
There are some entrepreneurs who are in it strictly for the money, but the ones that I know and associate with are in it because that is who they are. They see a problem, and simply have to be smack dab in the middle of the solution. If we had a few less conformists and a few more James Deans, what would our world be like? What would business and the economy in America be?
I think that things would change quickly, and for the good, if we had more people saying, "I don't like this and I will make it better!" A few more rebels out there shaking things up and inspiring others to want all that they can get out of life would be nice.
So, I challenge you to embrace your inner James Dean and live your life for every moment you are here. Push yourself to try new things and believe that it is okay to fail once in a while.
Good luck!
Jody Holland
www.murfsystems.com
jody@murfsystems.com
I think that James Dean had something when he said this. He lived his life to the fullest. He took risks. He tried things that other people did not think made sense. He truly defined who he was as a person and lived that image in every way, shape, and form. He branded himself forever in this world as a result of that style of living.
I think that we are missing this component in our society as a whole, but particularly in business. People seem to spend so much time trying to ensure that they don't "color outside the lines" that they miss a lot of the beauty of life. True entrepreneurs are the risk takers, the rebels, the defiant ones in this world. They look at life and claim all the experiences that they wish to have.
There are some entrepreneurs who are in it strictly for the money, but the ones that I know and associate with are in it because that is who they are. They see a problem, and simply have to be smack dab in the middle of the solution. If we had a few less conformists and a few more James Deans, what would our world be like? What would business and the economy in America be?
I think that things would change quickly, and for the good, if we had more people saying, "I don't like this and I will make it better!" A few more rebels out there shaking things up and inspiring others to want all that they can get out of life would be nice.
So, I challenge you to embrace your inner James Dean and live your life for every moment you are here. Push yourself to try new things and believe that it is okay to fail once in a while.
Good luck!
Jody Holland
www.murfsystems.com
jody@murfsystems.com
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Measuring Success...
"Success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life, as by the obstacles one has overcome trying to succeed." --Booker T. Washington
We hear about success and achieving our goals on a regular basis, but do we look at the process? Napoleon Hill stated clearly in his book "Think and Grow Rich" that in order to achieve success, one must be fully aware of the costs, the sacrifices, and the struggles that accompany the results. As I reflect back on the last 11 years in business, I know that there have been many struggles and sacrifices. But each of the tough times brought out something new in me that allowed me to grow and more fully understand who I was meant to be. I have learned to understand HTML, and what it stands for... haha I have learned database relationships, leadership, employee engagement, how to measure the culture of a company, and why many people do the wrong things over and over again, even when they know what is right. I have gained wisdom, learned perseverance, and practiced patience.
I have become the me that exists today. I think Washington knew what he was talking about. The reality is that the end result of my business will be only a small reflection of the journey. The true measure is who I become with each new day, what I learn with each new experience, and how I change as a result.
What is it in your life that has be a "challenge?" How did the struggle change you? If you will take the time to look at each challenge with a new syntax than you can get a new meaning. What I mean by that is...
If I were to say "The dog bit Sarah," you would feel bad for Sarah. Using the same words with a different arrangement, you get "Sarah bit the dog." I simply switched the order. When something tough happens in your life, instead of asking "Why does bad stuff always happen to me," ask a new question. Ask..."How can I get better, smarter, stronger, faster, wiser, as a result of this experience?" What can you learn from each and every hurdle that life throws at you. My time in business is better than any Master's degree that I could get. It can be tough in the midst of the struggle to survive, unless you ask the right question of yourself.
Remember that you are being shaped into the best you every day!
Good luck!
Jody Holland
MuRF Systems
www.murfsystems.com
jody@murfsystems.com
We hear about success and achieving our goals on a regular basis, but do we look at the process? Napoleon Hill stated clearly in his book "Think and Grow Rich" that in order to achieve success, one must be fully aware of the costs, the sacrifices, and the struggles that accompany the results. As I reflect back on the last 11 years in business, I know that there have been many struggles and sacrifices. But each of the tough times brought out something new in me that allowed me to grow and more fully understand who I was meant to be. I have learned to understand HTML, and what it stands for... haha I have learned database relationships, leadership, employee engagement, how to measure the culture of a company, and why many people do the wrong things over and over again, even when they know what is right. I have gained wisdom, learned perseverance, and practiced patience.
I have become the me that exists today. I think Washington knew what he was talking about. The reality is that the end result of my business will be only a small reflection of the journey. The true measure is who I become with each new day, what I learn with each new experience, and how I change as a result.
What is it in your life that has be a "challenge?" How did the struggle change you? If you will take the time to look at each challenge with a new syntax than you can get a new meaning. What I mean by that is...
If I were to say "The dog bit Sarah," you would feel bad for Sarah. Using the same words with a different arrangement, you get "Sarah bit the dog." I simply switched the order. When something tough happens in your life, instead of asking "Why does bad stuff always happen to me," ask a new question. Ask..."How can I get better, smarter, stronger, faster, wiser, as a result of this experience?" What can you learn from each and every hurdle that life throws at you. My time in business is better than any Master's degree that I could get. It can be tough in the midst of the struggle to survive, unless you ask the right question of yourself.
Remember that you are being shaped into the best you every day!
Good luck!
Jody Holland
MuRF Systems
www.murfsystems.com
jody@murfsystems.com
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
What do we get for our trouble?
"The highest reward for a man's toil is not what he gets for it but what he becomes by it." --John Ruskin
I have seen a number of entrepreneurs over the years who "wanted" to be successful. It is not the want that gets a person to that definition of success, whatever the definition may be. It is a combination of motivation and ability directed toward an end result. The same would be true for managers, leaders, and employees as it is for entrepreneurs. If you stop and think about the things that you have been exposed to in your life, you begin to realize that each of us was shaped most profoundly in our moments of stress, struggle, and challenge, not in our moments of comfort.
I heard a gentleman named Andy Andrews speak once about the struggles that he went through in becoming a speaker and author. He said that he used to complain about the fact that every story out there was about people who ended up winning and he wanted a story about people like him, who hadn't won. Then he realized that they don't write stories about people who quit. They write stories about people who never give up and who are shaped into something great from the fire.
Imagine yourself being worked over on the anvil of life. A blacksmith would thrust you into the fire of life, the challenges and struggles, then pull you out and beat you into a new shape. Plunging, shaping, beating, and repeating... This would go on and on until the rough edges, the impurities, and the weaknesses were overcome. This would happen until you had reached your "perfect" shape, that one that was always hidden beneath the surface, waiting for the right trials to bring it out.
It may sound strange, but we should be thankful for the trials and challenges in life. It is the challenge that brings out the "possible" you. All great people have challenges. And all great victors keep pushing forward to become something better as they overcome those challenges.
Embrace the growth that you get from life's challenges.
Jody Holland
MuRF Systems
www.murfsystems.com
jody@murfsystems.com
I have seen a number of entrepreneurs over the years who "wanted" to be successful. It is not the want that gets a person to that definition of success, whatever the definition may be. It is a combination of motivation and ability directed toward an end result. The same would be true for managers, leaders, and employees as it is for entrepreneurs. If you stop and think about the things that you have been exposed to in your life, you begin to realize that each of us was shaped most profoundly in our moments of stress, struggle, and challenge, not in our moments of comfort.
I heard a gentleman named Andy Andrews speak once about the struggles that he went through in becoming a speaker and author. He said that he used to complain about the fact that every story out there was about people who ended up winning and he wanted a story about people like him, who hadn't won. Then he realized that they don't write stories about people who quit. They write stories about people who never give up and who are shaped into something great from the fire.
Imagine yourself being worked over on the anvil of life. A blacksmith would thrust you into the fire of life, the challenges and struggles, then pull you out and beat you into a new shape. Plunging, shaping, beating, and repeating... This would go on and on until the rough edges, the impurities, and the weaknesses were overcome. This would happen until you had reached your "perfect" shape, that one that was always hidden beneath the surface, waiting for the right trials to bring it out.
It may sound strange, but we should be thankful for the trials and challenges in life. It is the challenge that brings out the "possible" you. All great people have challenges. And all great victors keep pushing forward to become something better as they overcome those challenges.
Embrace the growth that you get from life's challenges.
Jody Holland
MuRF Systems
www.murfsystems.com
jody@murfsystems.com
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