I was recently involved in a training exercise where a group of us read and studied “The Traveler’s Gift – Seven Decisions of Personal Success” by Andy Andrews. As we went through these seven decisions, I began to realize several things about myself and my lack of success in achieving my goals.
I learned by taking a long hard look at my life, up to this point, that fear led to procrastination and indecision. That I was where I was in life because of the choices I had made.
All through my life I had started things, but never really followed through with any of them. I always had big dreams. I could even imagine myself already there. I could even imagine what it may take to achieve my goals and would be willing to do what it takes to get there. I would get excited and would often start down the path to achieve those goals. But, somehow I always ended up losing my way, losing site of my destination.
From the time I was 7 years old until into my early 20’s, I was going to be a rock star. I taught myself to sing by listening to Beatles records in my bedroom as a little kid and mimicking what I heard until I hit every note exactly. I taught myself to play guitar by playing along with my KISS records as a teenager. I even had started writing songs and designing album covers for my future band. I was in several bands in high school and into my twenties.
I wanted it so bad I was willing to do anything. But, that desire dwindled away.
I let people around me convince me that my goals were unrealistic, unattainable, and impractical. I was told I should grow up and realize that I have to get a “real job” like everyone else. That’s what you’re supposed to do.
So, I did. But, all the while I knew that it wasn’t for me. I felt it to my core. But, somehow I believed that I had no choice in the matter. That’s just the way life was. It was pounded into my head repeatedly throughout my life.
Every time I tried to break free of the mold, I allowed myself to be pounded back into submission. I felt beaten. Doomed to a life of mediocrity.
It was torture. I became increasingly disenchanted with life and deeply depressed. Those feelings of hopelessness led to extreme substance abuse and addictions that nearly took my life on several occasions and I was angry every time I survived.
But, I kept going. I did my best to accept that the fact that this was life and I would have to live life on what I was taught to believe were life’s terms.
I got sober and went back out into the workforce and accepted, to the best of my ability, that this was how life was supposed to be.
Several years later I once again felt that feeling that was all too familiar. Discontent. Once again I felt that uncomfortable feeling of being trapped in a life I never wanted for myself and feeling I had no choice in the matter. Depression and anxiety set in. In my sobriety and my commitment to conform to the life I was told I should live I had been laid off from several jobs, gone to school for 2 different careers and kept plugging away never knowing when I would be out of work again.
The pressure became too much and led to a major meltdown which lost me yet another job. It was my last.
My condition was such that I could not function in a normal working environment due to severe depression, anxiety and my mind and body’s inability to handle stressful situations. In essence, I was truly psychologically unemployable, so much so that I was put on disability for my condition.
Now what was I to do? I couldn’t get a job like I was always told to do.
Even though things seemed hopeless, I was actually relieved. I didn’t have to live a charade anymore. I didn’t have to live a life I knew wasn’t for me.
But, did I really want to rely on the government for the rest of my life, for even less money? Hell no!
That’s why I started to look for ways to work from home, which subsequently led me to the opportunity I am currently involved in, which in turn led me to the book and the study of these seven decisions.
Since reading my copy of “The Traveler’s Gift,” I’d been listening to all of the recorded training calls regarding these 7 decisions. While listening to the call regarding the Fourth Decision, which is; “I have a decided heart,” I took a really good look at where I am in my home based business.
During that call, one of the coaches mentioned the thought process of … seeing the newest opportunities, the hype, the promises and thinking “I’m not getting results with present business venture; it’s just not working for me. Maybe I should try something else.”
Back between November 2008, when I joined my opportunity, and making the decision to attend my first live event in November 2009, I went through that same scenario. I had decided that this wasn’t going to work for me because I couldn’t afford to get involved in this particular opportunity and decided to park my account, which is also referred to as a student account. I stayed a member in that capacity for close to a year. I didn’t delete my account.
Meanwhile, I was trying just about everything out there to earn money and maybe I could eventually reactivate my full account with the company I originally chose.
I had an undecided heart.
I made a decision to join my chosen opportunity, but did not go about making that decision right. Instead, I veered off the path distracted by things I thought would help me get what I felt that I needed quicker and with less money. THEN maybe I could give that other opportunity a try later.
Looking back, I realize that I would be so much farther along and closer to the reason I started this journey if I had had a decided heart. Many people who had signed up with this particular company at around the same time I did, and some even newer than I, were achieving great results and success.
The live event inspired me to re-commit myself to my original decision to be a part of this community of entrepreneurs. Never in my life have I been so sure that I have made the right decision. I believed in the company and it’s products from the beginning. I guess that’s why I never cancelled my membership entirely. I trusted the founder from the moment I saw his video for the first time over a year ago. I knew in my heart that he was sincere and legit. I knew that this was an opportunity that could help me to achieve the lifestyle I had always wanted. I just needed to commit to it.
Making this decision was crucial to my success, not only in my business, but in my life.
I am so very grateful to these people for giving me the opportunity, resources and education to change my life. And for introducing me to these 7 decisions and for challenging and inspiring me to embrace these decisions, and make them for myself.
“A wise man will cultivate a servant’s spirit, for that particular attribute attracts people like no other. As I humbly serve others, their wisdom will be freely shared with me. Often, the person who develops a servant’s spirit becomes wealthy beyond measure. Many times, a servant has the ear of the king, and a humble servant often becomes a king, for he is the popular choice of the people. He who serves the most grows the fastest.”
That excerpt was taken from a book by Andy Andrews called “The Traveler’s Gift – Seven Decisions That Determine Personal Success.” Within the framework of what he refers to as the ‘second decision,’ it talks about seeking wisdom and knowledge in order to better serve others.
In “Magnetic Sponsoring,” Mike Dillard talks about increasing your value to others so that you may serve more people better. Become a leader that others want to follow. He states “The more valuable you become to others, the more they will seek you out.”
I have been in the home business industry long enough to know that these concepts are crucial for building any enterprise on the internet. Far too often, people are obsessed with promoting and recruiting, assuming their product, or opportunity, are so spectacular that it will sell itself if they just draw enough attention to it.
While that may be true, they are missing one key element; people do not join a business, they join people, specifically, people who can solve their problems. It is human nature to follow the leader. They want to align themselves with someone who has the knowledge and the vision to get them where they want to go.
You must seek wisdom and knowledge, and then apply what you’ve learned to earn the role of a leader. “The more valuable you become to others, the more they will seek you out.”
Make the decision today to seek wisdom.
As your value increases, your success increases, exponentially.
