Someone has said, “You begin where you are.” Very pithy but it’s true….In a mathematical sense a VECTOR has Magnitude and Direction. But, in order to have a VECTOR there has to be a starting point. Basic to all experience in our world is that we have to start somewhere and we have to have a plan to get somewhere else. In each of our worlds there is a desire to be successful or accomplished at something. So, we take stock of who we are, what or who we want to become, and where these things are located. We lay out the plan to move toward our own personal definition/description of success. We begin the journey. Simple enough.
The part that we rarely prepare for or even anticipate is the opinions of others about our definition of success. As soon as we begin talking about our plans, the posse of naysayers and doubters always appears. All of them want a piece of our vision to dismantle, to tear up, to ridicule and to destroy. This is a reality of the world that we do not address nor do we have the tools to combat and turn back. Without a proper internal and personal response we are doomed to believe the mob and tear up our dream. But, if we believe in what we want then we will devise a way to win despite the self-appointed opposition.
The TEST for us is whether we can side step the verbal barbs of doubt and ridicule to continue on toward the goal and the win. I would say that 90% of all announcements to others about our plans to win are met with scorn with resultant discouragement.
Do you remember when you first decided to compete on stage as a bodybuilder? WOW! You had just as well told your closest (alleged) friends that you were going to drive a VW to the Austrian Alps from Colorado, Ocean not withstanding. The chuckling, the dramatic physical taunting (Archer Pose) was unending. But, we somehow, pushed ahead out of their sight and began the journey.
The TEST is whether you really believe that you can win despite all the opposition. Herein lies the secret of winning. Discipline does not care whether you are discouraged, whether you are tired, whether you don’t feel like doing it…..You do it anyway. To get over the doubts of others, and the TESTING we have to shut off all feelings and do the work no matter what.
Bottom Line: If you want to win, you have to prepare to win and be willing to withstand doubt and to endure the testing that will inevitably come. This is our challenge: We have to overcome doubt and testing to have that which we seek!
Six Pack and Senior 