Do It Scared...Sharing Some Inspiring Courage

I was going to continue with my series on boundaries today, but this morning, as I was doing a little morning reading (I don't get the paper here in East Texas back country roads...so blogs are my morning read!), I read something I just had to share.

EVERYONE needs to read this!  It applies to life dreams as well as business goals.  The words are powerful and inspiring.  Hey...I'm all fired up now and it wasn't the coffee!

THIS LINK is to Michael Hyatt's International Leadership Blog, where Jeff Goins guest posted today.  But be sure to hop over to Jeff's blog after reading the article and check out other things from Jeff...he's one of my favorite writers!

While he primarily writes to encourage writers, 

I think you will find many of his posts speak to all of us 

as we seek to become all we were created to be!  

Let's Get There One Step at a Time,
Tami

A Step Toward Guaranteed Success

What would you attempt if you knew you could not fail?

Fear of failure is a top reason for lack of forward movement in any business. 

What is failure?  Let’s look at what Webster says:

• To stop functioning
• To fall short
• To be unsuccessful
• To fade or die away

Hmmmm….

If I attempt nothing…I essentially stop functioning. 

If I attempt nothing…I am guaranteed to fall short of my dreams and be unsuccessful. 

If I attempt nothing…it is certain that my dreams will die and fade away. 

It appears that the only way to be sure we don't fail is to do something; 

to take a step forward everyday. 

Doing nothing is guaranteed failure.  

IF I attempt to do something …I continue to function. 

IF I attempt to do something …I am guaranteed to be one step closer my dreams and one step closer to being successful in overcoming my fears and thoughts of self doubt.

IF I attempt to do something …my dreams will continue to be a part of who I am…remaining alive in me as long as I keep trying. 


So today's word of encouragement is this:

Take a step forward today.  

You are guaranteed not to fail 

because failure is a result of doing nothing! 

Let’s Get There One Step at a Time,

Copyright© 2012 Just One Step at a Time

First Steps Never Get Old

WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU DID SOMETHING FOR THE 1^ST TIME?

First steps!  We all take them throughout our lives.  


Without 'first steps', we'd never move forward.  They can be scary at times; stepping into a new career, a new school, a new social group...but once we push past the fear and take the step, the emotions change to excitement and joy! 


The opposite of 'first steps' is walking in circles.  Too many times we lose sight of the excitement and joy new steps bring and let fear keep us from getting anywhere.  

We've all heard the saying ~  ‘The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over expecting a different result’. 

When you're not doing something for the first time…then you're doing the same thing over and over.  And if  you're  doing the same thing over and over…you can't expect anything to change. 

Are you at the finish line?  

Are you done?  

Have you come to that line you have drawn 

between possible and impossible? 

If you're not ready for things to stay just as they are…

...if you have a dream of more, then

you must continue to do things for the first time.   

It’s not a matter of how far that dream or vision you have is from being a reality…it's a matter of constantly moving forward....

Just. One. Step. At. A. Time.  

Your line defining what was possible and impossible moves FORWARD each time you do something for the first time. 

When I see people who have decided that they have reached the line of impossibility, I see people who have stopped doing something for the first time.  I see people who have let fear and self doubt decide for them that they have come to the end of what's possible.  

I’ll prove it: 

Possible looks like this...

Your business and all its possibilities started with the first time you decided to give it a try.  The first time you stopped listening to the excuses and fears and took a step you had never made before.  

Impossible looks like this….

A business and all its possibilities ended when a person decided to not step out and give it a try for the first time.


Possible...

If you are in a party plan business, your bookings and all the possibilities of continued bookings started the first time you decided to ask a friend to hold your first show.  From this first step you found more opportunities to fill your calendar. 

Impossible...
A home party business and all the possibilities of continued bookings ended  when someone decided not to take that first step of asking a friend to hold a show. 


Possible...

For those that have developed a leadership business, your journey to leadership and all its possibilities started with the first time you decided to share with someone your business opportunity.  

Impossible...
A journey to leadership and all its possibilities ended when someone decided not to take that step of sharing the opportunity. 


Possible...

Your success to this point started with the first time you decided to invest in personal development. 

Impossible...

Personal growth and success ended when someone decided not to take that first step of investing in personal development. 

Taking a first step is how it starts.  

Not taking a first step is how it ends.  

Be willing to dream and then do something…one thing…even the smallest thing…for the first time. 

This is different than doing the same thing over and over.  Try something you haven't tried before.  Learn something new and then do it.  


Don't make it complicated, just step out there and find a new idea from another successful person and then try it yourself for the first time.  Doing something for the first time just means it's the first time YOU have done it.  


When you do, you'll find the excitement and joy of 'first steps' will energize you and your business in ways that are sure to move it forward to the next level of success.  

Let’s Get There One Step at a Time,

Copyright© 2012 Just One Step at a Time

Erasing Lines

WHERE DO YOU DRAW THE LINE BETWEEN POSSIBLE AND IMPOSSIBLE?

Sometimes the one step we need to take is the one we've told ourselves we can't take, aren't able to take or have drawn a line that says 'don't step past this place'.  


Think back to 3, 5, or 10 years ago. 

What are you doing now that you thought was impossible back then? 

• Have you started a business or reached a career level you never dreamed possible? 
• Do you live in a home that is more than you imagined having when you first left home? 
• Maybe you are able to give back through philanthropic endeavors in ways that exceed your expectations?

[Take a moment to write your achievements down before continuing....]

Still thinking back, what were the things that made you limit the possibilities in your mind?  

Said another way, what made you consider what is now a reality to be impossible back then? 

• Fears?
• Insecurities?
• Self doubt?
• Limited resources?
• Lack of opportunity?
• No vision?

[Take a moment to write the limiting factors that existed back then before continuing....]

Now walk with me down the path that brought you from those years long ago to the present.  What happened along the way that turned what you considered to be impossible into the possible? 

• Did you overcome a fear(s)?  How?
• Did you conquer an insecurity by learning what you needed to know to move forward?
• Did time and experience give you the confidence you lacked?
• Maybe you were surrounded by encouraging people who cheered you on when you wanted to give up.  If so, who? What did they tell you? 
• If resources were limited, how did you keep that from getting in your way?
• Were you presented with opportunities that you never imagined existed?
• Did you catch a glimpse of a vision?  What was it? 

 [Take a moment to think about these life changing events and write them down before continuing....]

Looking at your list of achievements and the answers to the questions above, you will see that at one point in your life you drew a line that said 'this is possible but that is not'.  AND THEN YOU PROVED YOURSELF WRONG!  

So where DO you draw the line 

between possible and impossible?  

Maybe a better question is this...

SHOULD I draw a line 

between possible and impossible?  

As we aspire to reach new goals, accomplish new things, and seek a new vision for our lives, it's important that we not put boundaries in places they don't need to be.  

Before you draw that line defining what is and is not possible, look back at what you have achieved and remember this...

Impossible is just a challenge 

you have yet to overcome!

So let's make one more list.  

• What do you want to achieve next?  
• What goal have you put off because you had drawn a line?
• What have you told yourself you "can't" do, but wish you could?  

  [Take a moment to think about this and write down your thoughts before continuing....]

Finally, use what you learned from seeing how past impossibilities became current realities and attack this last list with answers and solutions. 

• Don't know how to do it?  Find out where to learn and make it happen. 
• Not sure you can do it?  Try and find out!
• Feeling discouraged?  Seek out others who have done it already and ask them to be your mentor and source of encouragement.   

The line drawn between possible and impossible 

can only be drawn by YOU.  

Where will YOU draw the line?   Or better yet…

WILL YOU DRAW THE LINE AT ALL? 

When we take time to look back and see how we have overcome limitations and crossed over boundaries to reach our current level of success, we learn that we are.... 

• stronger than we think, 
• smarter than we think  
• more capable than we think.

Use this knowledge to set a plan of action for your future POSSIBILITIES and get on course to making them your new REALITIES!   

Let’s Get There One Step at a Time,

Copyright© 2012 Just One Step at a Time