Waiting?

Recently, I was taking in the news coverage of a large local event here in Cincinnati, The Flying Pig Marathon. This event has exploded in popularity over its twelve years and attracts thousands of participants from all over the US. This year, despite the rain, well over 18,000 runners showed up to compete.

Although, I have participated in 5K events, I have never participated in a marathon (26.2 miles, are you kidding…) as a result, my knowledge is very basic. As the time for the race to begin approached, the commentators were discussing the first challenge facing the runners; something that I had never considered: getting across the Start line. With so many participants, it takes some time, and patience, for everyone to just get across the Start line.

How similar this is to life and the pursuit of goals and a better life. So much of what we read and focus on, is getting ourselves across the finish line. I find, at times, I spend too much time and energy, looking ahead to see where the finish line is, how long it will take to get there, and questioning whether it is worth it. Meanwhile, I haven’t even made it across the Start line. There is no finish line, without the start line. In fact, some of the most important races we will run, never have a finish line, but they all have a start line. Further, the Start line is the most important, and the most difficult to conquer. What is holding you back from crossing over?

Over Planning
Analysis Paralysis is one of the most destructive forces in our lives. By nature, I am not an organized individual. I learned long ago, when working in the staffing industry, that if I did not learn organizational skills, that success was not an option. I had to learn to multitask while multitasking. As a part of the organizational process, plans and strategies must be developed to accomplish goals. The problem occurs when the planning falls victim to the expectations of perfectionism. No plan, idea, or strategy is perfect
and if that is your expectation, you will never start. So, if you are considering a new goal, or business opportunity, you must set a date to begin implementation. Once that date arrives, you must begin even if every detail is not in place. If you do not, you will find yourself, wondering where the time went, as life passes you by, with the start line still ahead of you.

Fear of Failure
Hundreds of books have been written about this insidious illness. I have fallen victim to this evil. Every great leader has faced failure in his or her past. I know that I have. As we have all heard, the only ones who never fail are those who have never attempted to accomplish great things. As we get older and more experienced, we rack up a history of successes and great life experiences, but, also, along the way, we have a list of endeavors that did not go the way we had wished. Before we realize, our mind begins to focus on our past failures instead of our past successes. This can be debilitating. The only true failure occurs when we do not pursue our dreams and goals.

Moving Past The Start Line
So many times, we give up just before we are in a position to enjoy wild success. In order to cross the Start line, we have to develop a belief in success. What would you do if Napoleon Hill came to you in an apparition and told you that success was assured? If you knew, without a shadow of a doubt, that if you just move past the Start line, that your goals would be attained. Would you hesitate to get going? Of course not. In fact, you would kick yourself for not getting started sooner. Well, this is exactly the case. If you currently find yourself stuck in a rut, fearful of what move to take next, it is time to do it NOW. If not now, when? Remember, you are not currently participating in a dress rehearsal, your life in currently in progress. How much more of it are you willing to waste, waiting to get started?

Throw Out The Wet Blanket
Examine what the voices surrounding you are saying. Are the people that you spend time with discouraging you from crossing your start line? Negative minded individuals love to group around the start line, eager to proclaim your failure in advance. They tend to carry extensive lists outlining why a new endeavor will fail. Observe Clark Kent’s relationship to Kryptonite and follow his example when relating to this breed. Thomas Edison was fond of silencing the naysayer and we should be, as well. Guard your dreams and goals; protect them from attack. When I am pursuing a goal, I rarely discuss it. A trusted sounding board is more valuable than gold. Develop a relationship with a trusted friend or colleague that will provide honest feedback without shooting down your dreams. Avoid discussion with anyone else. A constant drumbeat of negativity is difficult to overcome. Do not subject yourself to such torture.

The Enemy Within
In addition to outside voices, it is crucial to success to train your own voice. If you have developed a habit of “beating yourself up” over every mistake, or failure you have experienced, you are guilty of self-sabotage. This is a difficult habit to overcome, but must be done, not only for success, but also to experience an enjoyable life on a daily basis. Sure, we all have areas of our lives that require improvement, but this does not mean that we lay awake every night, taking an endless inventory of our past failures and shortcomings. Replace your negative self-talk with positive inner dialog.
This is a process that may seem uncomfortable in the beginning, you may have to “fake it ‘til you make it” but the power you will begin to feel as you proclaim your own self-value will open your path to quantum leaps toward accomplishing your goals and transform you into a happier individual. Ignore the reluctance that you will experience when you start this process. You must end your days as your own worst enemy.

Supplement this with daily doses of positive CDs and books from outside sources. Every success coach will proclaim this as a crucial component of success attainment. It always seems like such a simple recommendation but flooding your mind with positive messages via this method must be exercised daily. Among the most powerful material that you can consume are biographies. I am always amazed at the heartache, failure, and outright agony that some of the world’s most successful people have endured on their journey past the start line to the top of the mountain. Once we understand that failure and challenges are to be expected on the way to success, we can more easily deal with them and keep moving, with our eyes always fixed on the prize.