|
|
Chapter Twelve
Success And
Courage
By now, the link between
success and courage should be obvious; however, some things are
still left to be said.
Courage is required
for any type of success, the courage to leave old ways behind
when they no longer seem to work. Even when they do, other techniques,
approaches and attitudes might work better. Courage to leave
behind the comfortable, and the well-known, the familiar and
the taken for granted. Then in its place just to emphasize the
not yet explored, the not understood or even the totally alien.
Bravery of a special kind is required of those who would risk
ridicule, mockery and all sorts of rejection - especially from
so-called "experts" who just know your new ideas and
concepts indicate nothing but an addled brain.
To be a leader, when
all others are content to be followers dwelling in the "House
of the Bored and Boring," certainly appeals only to the
forthright of spirit. Such a person needs to be able to stride
out in front, knowing in advance there can be no already established
roads for pioneers, those with vision enough to be the trail-blazers
of new ideas, concepts and inventions.
Looking around for
reassurance at such times is futile; all signs will point in
the direction contrary to that which you know to be your own.
If you need the support of the mob, stay where you are; otherwise,
strike out in a direction which may never have been taken before.
There is not another person with quite your world-view, perspective
and mind set.
If you do not act
on your dreams, who will bring them into reality? If you are
truly capable of long-term success, you have stepped beyond the
fear of failure and of success for these twin bogeymen paralyze
the wills of the timid and the ineffectual. Some are afraid of
the success they have probably never even approached. Others
fear the failure, which they believe, in their meek little hearts,
would destroy them were they to experience it. So they stay where
they are, their only company the mounting piles of lame excuses
for not truly living, which fill the empty places in their dusty
little lives.
The bravery required
of the successful is the same in all generations and all ages.
The pioneer spirit is central to this outlook and stance toward
living. False promises and easy little sayings and slogans are
not part of this life. The rarefied atmosphere of the successful
is pure and clean, not meant for the Dwellers on the Valley.
It wouldn't support their whining little lifestyle with its softness,
easy choices and flabby habits.
Successful people
are prepared to live beyond precedent, beyond example, beyond
the tested and already verified. They insist on pushing back
the envelope of the known, the possible and the unlikely. Excuses,
alibis and sob stories they leave to others who have more need
of them in their entrenched habits of work, thought and action.
The courageous person,
while compassionate toward the weakness of others, does not allow
their hesitation to become his. He understands their non-choices
without condemning them and moves his own life forward in the
only direction and at the only rate he truly relates to: straight
ahead at full speed! This course of action is chosen not to triumph
over others. Though it will inevitably have this consequence,
there is a need to triumph over his own weaker and more hesitant
side. The victory of the successful person is, more than anything
else, perhaps, a victory over his own tendency to slough off,
to give in, and to allow his enthusiasm to dampen and die, with
a meek little whimper.
The temptation to
return to an easier, rut-worn lifestyle is never totally overcome,
even by the successful, but they triumph over it on a daily basis,
experiencing victory in each moment as they move upward against
odds, which only seem overwhelming to the cowardly of spirit.
Moving against the current of popular opinion is nothing new
for successful people. In fact, this is largely how they define
themselves, how they know they are on the right track. As a Danish
existentialist put it so well, "The majority is always wrong!"
If you think you are a true pioneer and visionary with a unique
vision of success and the mob applauds your efforts, beware!
You must have made a wrong turn somewhere.
The courage to make
lonely and isolated decisions is probably the hardest to come
by, even for successful people. It's natural for us to look for
reassurance, support and endorsement when reaching a decision.
The problem is: if your project, idea or concept is really worthwhile,
you have to do without them.
SUMMARY
OF CHAPTER TWELVE
"Success And Courage"
- Courage is required for any
level of success.
- Successful people continually
push the "envelope" of life.
- Don't allow the weakness in
others to make you hesitate.
- The victory comes when you don't
give in. Keep up the enthusiasm.
|
The Steps to
Power Up!
Who Do You Know Within
90 Miles?
Create a list of 100
to 200 people you know and don't prejudge them.
Chapter Thirteen
|
