Want more power?
Take a minute to reflect on your business and your life. Is it everything you thought it would be? Is it better? Is it worse?
If it’s not what you dreamed of, there’s good news; you have the power to change it, starting right now. Tony Robbins, one of America’s greatest success coaches said, “It is our decisions, not our conditions, that determine the quality of our lives.”
Successful leaders know they’re not slaves to their conditions, but rather completely in control of their destinies, one choice at a time.
Ownership or Excuses?
The truth is you’re the captain of your ship. You’ve arrived at this very place, good or bad, because you sailed here. Through sunny skies and turbulent storms, you’ve been in control. Some days it might not have seemed like it, as new obstacles came into view, but you and you alone, have chosen whether to move forward and win or remain stuck at the mercy of some hidden enemy.
When the recession hit, so many owners blamed the economy for poor results. Of course it had an impact, and all of us were bloodied, but those that made it through never wasted time with blame and excuses. They chose instead to be accountable and take full ownership for their destinies.
Three Powerful Steps
Your history is not your future and there’s always a way to make the most of even the worst circumstances. To do that, take three steps:
Step One: Tell the truth. We all face challenges, but until you tackle them head-on, they’ll continue to drag you down. I’ve heard so many stories from owners who explained away problems because they didn’t believe they had any control. They complain about the employee who doesn’t produce, the product that’s poor quality, the team that never gels. There’s no shame in those challenges – the crime is ignoring them.
Step Two: Get clear about what you want. You can’t hit the bulls-eye if you don’t know the location of the dart board. How sure are you about what you DO want? Don’t just see things as they are now, picture what it could be! Raise your standards and don’t let another day go by accepting mediocrity.
Step Three: Take action. Today is the day to start making different choices. Tiny little decisions that over time will change your life. I vividly remember a conversation I had with one of my most successful clients. I asked him, “What one thing propelled you to reach this new level?” His answer, “It wasn’t one thing. It was a million little things.” It took time, but he’s happier than he’s ever been and his business has nearly doubled.
The Bottom Line
Your life is a product of your decisions and the actions you’ve taken because of them. When you’re clear about what you want and make different choices, you get different results. Take control of your life because today’s decisions determine tomorrow’s happy endings.
