Success Aint For Sissies

You knew that when you started your business is wasn't going to be all gumdrops and butterflies. But I bet you didn't think it was going to be so challenging at times either. Seems our corporate counterparts have it easy. They don't have to do EVERYTHING, the money doesn't come out of their own bank accounts, and they rarely have to sell the work, do the work, and chase the money. But instead of bemoaning them or lower your desires for success, re-ignite your passion.
Obstacles are those things, people or situations that come up that seem to stop us from moving towards our dreams. Some big, some small, they pop up when you least expect it and when you really don’t need them. But obstacles are blessings in disguise.
I recently watched The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch found on YouTube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4HqdnjgkExY
Randy Pausch, a professor at Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) in Pennsylvania, was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and given a few months to live. As a tradition at CMU, professors are often asked to present their ‘last lecture’ under the premise that if you had one last lecture to present before you die what would you talk about. Sadly, Randy’s plight was real and so as the father of 3 young children, he decided that he would leave behind a legacy and presented his last lecture, called ‘Achieving Your Childhood Dreams.” Within his lecture you will find many solid principles for living life to the fullest, but two things resonated for me.
1) Experience is what you get when you don’t get what you want
2) Brick walls are there for a reason, and the reason is so that we can prove how much we want what is on the other side
Obstacles, roadblocks, brick walls are always going to be there. But, they help you to solidify your plan, prioritize your dreams, uncover your true values, reinforce your vision and, with the creative energy of the Universe, find alternative ways of reaching your goal. Based on my experience and the hundreds of conversations I have had about them, the alternative always proved to be better than the original plan. Sometimes we don’t think big enough for ourselves or trust enough in the laws of a higher power – but if you truly believe in what you are working for, and adopt a single-minded focus that you will be successful – whatever it takes and no matter how long - then you will fulfill your dreams.