Step 15: Accelerating Toward Success!

“By stretching yourself beyond your perceived level of confidence you accelerate your development of competence.”

Michael J Gelb

READ IT

If you’ve been following the steps up to now – YOU ARE ALMOST 4 MONTHS INTO THIS 52 STEP PROGRAM. You might have hit some bumps along with way, you might have had some valleys, but I know you’ve also hit some smooth roads, you’ve experienced some peaks, you are finding ways each week to find more ways to find success.

Sometimes this process might be just a better attitude. You find that the little things that might have brought you down before or just situations and you have control over them. You are hanging around a group of people that help elevate you to new levels. Without even realizing it, you are finding out that you are spending more time with people that exercise because you are exercising more. If you are doing a hobby, you are discovering people that have the same like and interests and giving you knowledge and even more pleasure from your activities. The switch is on.

I had a good friend that use to say you are:  (1) What you listen to; (2) What you read; and (3) The people you hang around. Darin Hardy says you are like the top 5 people you hang around the most – so be very selective of the people you choose to give your time and energy to. Your change has taken hold, and it is becoming permanent.

This is the time when we need to make sure we stay grounded. Not so much that we have a “big head”, but where we can start to over stretch ourselves and become over-confident with what we can do. I have a good friend that was doing great in doing training and sport camps for kids. His business was booming. He then started to get offers to get involved with other businesses and ventures – success finds success. I’m sure he could have done great at these other avenues, but he got away from his goals and what he was all about. He had so many things going – and many not related, that he couldn’t keep up with what helped him achieve his success in the first place. Things started to slide. Don’t let that happen to you. Make sure to keep your focus on what you want to do, what you can do, and what you do best.

Always keep in mind to keep building that self confidence, but also keep from getting OVER confident and over stretching what you can do. Know when enough is enough. When you do this, you’ll find that you even build MORE self confidence, and that you can comfortably add more to your plate, but keep on the same path and hold true to yourself and what you want to accomplish. What’s more, you’ll have earned your new level of success and confidence because it came with hard work and earned success.

DO IT

1. This week, I want you to write down the new “positive” habits in your life. Also write down some people or things; meetings you are going to, books you are reading, etc. that are making this change.
2. I want you this week to also write down your “3” – what are you listening to? Is it good, positive music, or a positive tape. Put it down in your notebook. Then write down some music or information that you SHOULD BE LISTENING TO! Do the same with the book. What is the last book you have read? What are some good books that you SHOULD READ? Put those down. Finally, write down the 5 people you spend most your time with and around. Be honest with this list. Are those the 5 people you want to be like?
3. Finally, write out in a short paragraph – WHAT KEEPS YOU GROUNDED. Maybe its something you do. Maybe it’s a person (one of your 5 people), Maybe it’s an activity or event you give your time, energy and money to. By staying with it, it keeps you focused and grounded on what is important.
4. And the last of the last – go get the tape/music, go get the book, and thank those friends that are near and dear to you! Make this week the best ever!