It is absurd to believe that everyone in North America wants a better life, but when given the opportunity 99{c3361bb0cafa607323a298437b54afc507cdfbda6b55a640fbdde2a09fd3f6b4} of us will sabotage our opportunities. As I look back on a good career I remember those moments. I would like to say that I missed the opportunity. But if I’m honest I need to admit I sabotaged them.
On the positive side, I missed some great career opportunities, but they left room for other opportunities that I felt may have had a better impact on my life, making me the person I am today. While I have regrets, I am not burdened by them.
I learned early on how to succeed. Everyone in management has heard the statement ‘Continuing to do the same thing and hoping for a different outcome is the definition of insanity. I also had an early mentor tell me ‘you can live your life, or you can live vicariously through television. You cannot do both.’ Shortly after that, I tossed my television for about 5 years.
Suddenly, I had time to learn and explore new topics. I learned that there is no failure until I quit. The only option was to continually learn how to do something better or learn to do something new. These are really the only options for someone who wants to improve their lives and reach their goals.
People who do not fear success have mentors and teachers. I’ve never met a self-made man or woman. No one is an island. Fear makes us hide and avoid confrontation and rejection. We avoid building work relationships and working with people who can force us out of our comfort zone.
Fear also causes us to sell out ourselves. Doubt causes us to compromise our values and morals. When this happens we become pawns, not valuable assets to the company. When you end up in this situation take a good look at your job hunting playbook. Did you represent yourself honestly? Or, did you let desperation, or ego, put you in a position that wasn’t yours?
Do you find yourself sabotaging your opportunities or landing jobs you do not feel comfortable doing? If so then you may need to take some time and find your purpose. When you find your purpose then you will find your passion. When you find your passion then you will find yourself more comfortable in your job position. Your productivity will increase.
In the end, you are responsible for your own success. Think of the situations that have turned your career upside down. Who did you blame? Even if someone else caused a series of unfortunate events leading to your demise then you still need to take responsibility for letting the situation get out of hand.
Whenever you are disappointed or unhappy the answer is that you need to change. Rebuilding your career may seem like an impossible task.
Unsuccessful people believe that success comes by chance or by luck, or by knowing the right people. Successful people think differently. They do differently. Becoming successful only requires that you learn how to think, and act, like a successful person.
The first major mindset change is that they don’t learn how to deal with problems. Instead, they learn how to prevent them. If something worked before they don’t do it again.
They think of some way to do it better. Even if that means studying for a few months until they learn to see the problem from a different point of view.
Another thing that successful people do is write it down and journal it. Everything goes on paper. Everything is measured. Everything has a value. What works is kept. What doesn’t work is discarded or improved.
Every situation is fluid. Life is always changing. You are not going to be in your current situation forever. You will either learn how to adapt on your own, or other will force you aside.
