Stop
the Bleeding... Please!
Dear
Associate,
Three
questions if I may:
Do
you crave success only to cave in to self-destructive habits?
Do
you dream BIG, but fall into a pattern of acting small?
Do
you subscribe to the false belief that being busy with self-development
and menial tasks will actually make you wealthy?
My
good friend Juli is an independent beauty consultant for one
of the country's largest cosmetic companies. She and her husband
are raising four adorable girls. During one stretch in her
business she earned enough bonus commissions to drive a red
Pontiac Grand Prix from her company's Car Reward's Program.
I'll
never forget the day she picked it up. It was her special
moment. She had never reached this plateau before. Having
a new car in the driveway made a statement about her, her
success and where she was heading.
The
dealership responded with balloons and provided refreshments.
The atmosphere became alive with upbeat music. Her area representatives
arrived to cheer her on. And afterwards we went back to the
house to celebrate with bubbly.
Exactly one year later, she returned the Grand Prix to the
dealership. But it wasn't to trade up. Her commissions had
slipped and she was no longer eligible for any car.
What
happened?
Juli
is no slouch. She's a success student. She stays in tune with
her company's product line, literature and self-development
books. She attends her company's local and regional meetings.
And she's even assembled a dream board mounted in the kitchen
with cutouts of the car, house and income of her dreams.
But
what she doesn't realize is she's quietly sabotaging her success...
Because
her daily actions are in direct conflict with her dreams.
She is at odds with her goals. She's running around in a vicious
cycle not able to rise above it. In short: she knows she's
bleeding but won't change course.
Allow
me to explain...
Because
she and her husband were unhappy with public schools, she
began home schooling her girls. Which later led to a teaching
position at her church where her girls are enrolled. Which
unfortunately led to a huge pay cut because of reduced enrollment.
But she chose to stay on.
With
all the teaching, grading and tutoring—her lifestyle
has suffered. She seldom has time to invest in her business.
And she is only making $400 a month gross from the job. That's
only enough to pay for the gasoline to her dream car.
Because
of her commitment to the school, she feels guilty if she vacates
her position. In the meantime, her lack of income is taking
its toll on her. She wears hand-me-down clothes, rarely eats
out and her idea of quality family time consists of watching
checked-out DVDs from the public library.
What's
wrong with this picture?
Reading
books, creating your dream board and attending meetings will
not fulfill your dreams if your actions are at cross-purpose
with your desires.
Juli's
actions are earning her a poverty income. Yes her sacrifice
is noble, but nobility doesn't pay much. And her decision
to continue teaching negates everything she posted on her
dream board. Her actions are at odds with her dreams.
In
a nutshell, here's an illustration of how we often sabotage
our success:
If
you wanted a cornfield but sowed apple seeds instead, you
won't reap any corn. You can pray, repeat affirmations, yell
at the soil, read farming manuals and fertilize all you want—you
won't get one stalk of corn. I'm willing to bet you a dollar
on this.
So
here's a suggestion. It's simple to digest—but not as
easy to process. Yet it's something I highly recommend for
those who have healthy dreams.
If
you believe you can paint the picture of your perfect lifestyle—make
a detailed list of your action steps that will get you there.
Then work those steps and stay on course. One step at a time.
Even if life gets in the way. This is one sure way to stop
the bleeding.
Reading
books and acquiring skills will build a better you—but
without the right actions, the better you will not become
a happier you.
Warm
Regards,
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Tommy Yan helps business owners and entrepreneurs make more
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