The answer is unguided EFFORT
EFFORT: An earnest or strenuous attempt.
EFFORT: A conscious exertion of effort.
I’m not a big fan of the word EFFORT – especially unguided EFFORT. It’s sort of similar to the word TRY. Most folks don’t use the word EFFORT in a sentenece or a paragraph unless they’ve not reached their desired goal. Naturally, the word EFFORT – like the word FAILURE, has been placed high up on a pedestal as if to suggest that it should be rewarded.
When someone fails at an attempt, what’s the first thing they do? That’s right – they tell you about all the famous people (celebrities) who – at first, FAILED. They follow that up with a statement about the famous person to whom they are making reference, that goes something like, “Look where it got them!” In other words, if celebrity X had not failed at such and such, they would not have achieved this, that, and the other thing. It’s actually a pretty bogus argument, especially when you consider that, had they not failed, they could have done something even BETTER.
Sadly, that’s not a popular argument.
The most popular argument today is, “It’s okay to fail…many times over if necessary.” It’s almost as if the recipe for success has the first three steps listed as:
Step #1: Fail
Step #2: Fail Again
Step #3: Fail One More Time
Here’s a BIG TASTE OF REALITY:
For every big celebrity success you hear about that rises from the ashes of failure (or story on television, in a business magazine, etc.), there are hundreds of thousands of FAILURES that end right then and there. In other words, the stories that you don’t hear about or read about, are the ones that fail and stay failed (LOL).
The SOLUTION: Instead of patting ourselves on the back for our effort, how about we properly and effectively train our kids to prepare for success? What do you say? Instead of saying, “Give it your best effort, and if you fail, at least you know you tried,” how about something like, “I want you to prepare…and prepare…and prepare to succeed…SO THAT YOU DON’T FAIL.”
Still, failure can happen – even with excellent preparation. But the correction that comes out of that kind of failure will typically be less intense than going into something with a mindset of “I’ll give it my best!”
I talk with folks from all walks of life who have gone into things with a mindset that I couldn’t relate to on my worst day. When they FAIL, they blame the other person…the other businesses…the economy…everyone…anyone. That’s when I tell them to shut the hell up and answer a quick few questions:
1). What kind of research did you do specific to ____?
2). How did you plan for ____?
3). What about if X, Y, or Z happened?
In most cases, people are unable to answer all three questions. Okay, so maybe they have an answer, but in nearly all cases, their answers are completely nonsensical. Pathetic. Ridiculous. This is especially the case when it comes to new business ventures, and of course – relationships.
The keys to REAL success escape most people – especially those who come across as “having it all going on.” These folks lack the tools, and they will FAIL…badly…horribly…disastrously. They will stay FAILED. I’m not wishing them any ill will. I’m just telling you that I can listen to a plan, and within a few moments KNOW who is going to FAIL, and how badly they will go down in flames. No – I don’t have some special POWAAAH. It’s more about detecting the cracks in the structure than anything else.
The REAL keys to success have nothing to do with luck, wishing, hoping, or expecting. I present the tools that are needed to achieve success at my Headspace 2012 seminar, but convincing people that they should invest $1500.00 to learn HOW to do it right vs. blowing $15,000, $150,000, or even $1,500,000, is like pulling teeth. At the very least, I do the right thing by pointing out the cracks. When they REACT to this information, I simply go to my kitchen, pop a batch of organic popcorn seasoned with organic garlic olive oil and a light dusting of sea salt (mmmm), and watch the show. If you can’t watch them succeed, and you’ve given them sufficient warning (i.e. they shouldn’t put their hand on the burning hot stove), then the least you can do is kick back and enjoy watching their boat sink.
EFFORT is nice.
PLANNING is BETTER.
If you want to learn HOW to do it right,
sign up for HEADSPACE 2012!
Have A GREAT Day!
…Dr. Marc & The Mind Virus Team