The key to success

Knock down/remove as many barriers as possible to achieve success. But make sure you’re the one removing the obstacles and not just letting someone do the hard work for you.

The more barriers you have, the less likely you are to reach your goal. For example, say you want to lose 50 lbs. If you don’t have workout attire, you’re less likely to go…

If you live far away from the gym you chose to be a member…

If you don’t have a support system/someone to hold you accountable…

If you are surrounded by junk food (you have it in your house, you go down the aisle in the store with it, etc.)…

REMOVE BARRIERS.

I don’t have time…

Saying “I don’t have time” is just another way of saying “it’s not a priority.”

Whatever you’re talking about that you “don’t have enough time for” is not important enough yet, otherwise you would make time for it. A lot of people say that they “want” something (a better body, a healthier mindset, to start a business, write a book, etc.), but they don’t invest the time and effort to do what is necessary to achieve what they want. You may wish that you have those things/you’ve done those things, but you don’t want it badly enough to actually go do it.

 “If you really want to do something, you'll find a way. If you don't, you'll find an excuse.”

“If you really want to do something, you’ll find a way. If you don’t, you’ll find an excuse.” – Jim Rohn

Jealousy, privilege, and comparison

Before you make a jealous statement, “they’re so lucky that ____” or “it must be easy because of ____”, truly think to yourself the amount of work that that individual put in to get to where they are. There really are not many “overnight successes.”

And for those who inherited wealth or were put in a better position to start than you? Consider yourself the lucky one. You have gone through trials and tribulations that they have not, and it has forged you into the person you are today.

There will always be someone better off than you just like there will always be others worse off than you, yet you don’t consider yourself privileged. Take a step back and look in the mirror. If you’re reading this on a computer, how “lucky” are you? If you live in the United States, how lucky are you? If you have your eyesight and can hear, how lucky are you? Do you have four limbs? How lucky are you? People tend to downplay the “luck” that played a role in how they got to where they are today, yet they emphasize it in others’ success.

“I’m a self-made person” you say. But, in reality, everyone has had help along the way. Some have had more help than others. But you’ve had more help than plenty of others as well. Remember that.

Finally, stop comparing yourself to others. It doesn’t matter where they are or where they’re going. You can’t control that. But you can influence the direction of your life by the decisions you make each and every day. Work to get 1% better every single day and you’ll be amazed by the results in 1 year, 10 years, and beyond.

Challenges

We all face obstacles in our lives, but how we choose to view them is the first step to overcoming them. Do you see this obstacle as your next challenge? Is it something else for you to defeat? Will this add to your life story (where you play the hero/victor)? Or is it more adversity happening to you. Do you let it get you down? (Are you playing the victim card?)

Everyone faces challenges in life. That’s just the way it is. And some people have the cards stacked against them way more than others. It’s not fair, but it is what it is. You have two choices. You can fight to overcome these challenges or you can be the victim and let them overcome you. Either way, the circumstances leading up to your decisions are the same. But the outcome can (and will) be very different.

You don’t have to ignore what has happened or is happening to you. That would be silly. But you don’t have to feed into the negativity either. Figure out how to make it better. Once you have a plan, follow through and don’t be afraid to ask for help. Just don’t confuse asking someone to help you with asking for a handout…you need to bring forth effort to get yourself out of the hole you’re in, regardless of how you got there.

Be the thermostat, not the thermometer.

Be the person who sets the tone by their actions, thinking proactively, instead of the person who is reactive to everything around them. The thermostat sets the temperature, while the thermometer tells you what the temperature is and has no influence over it.

Don’t let someone else set the temperature for you. You can only control so much in life, but some of the things you can control are what actions you take, your attitude when you take them, and how you respond to external events. Be more like the thermostat, not the thermometer.