Persistence, Part 3: Exploring optimism as it relates to resilience

Posted on December 9, 2013 by Sean Moore | | Leave a comment

optimism and skyPersistence is one of the most important attributes you find in any successful person, whether he or she is an athlete, a student, or a businessperson. Over the past two weeks, we have been discussing why we need to persist to capture success in any area of our lives along with the importance of a healthy response to setbacks and failures as we travel the road to success.

As we continue to explore the subject of persistence, I want to discuss another of my firm beliefs: the most important trait you can posses as you persist in your quest for success is optimism. The online Oxford Dictionary of English defines optimism as “hopefulness and confidence about the future or the successful outcome of something.” When we are optimistic, we increase our likelihood of persisting and committing to our goals and also improve our ability to tolerate disappointments and challenges.

To remain optimistic, you must control your mind. The attitude of winning and being successful will always require increased effort, commitment, and persistence, especially when faced with difficulties or challenges that could jeopardize the chance of success.

Someone who is characterized as an optimist has a belief that things will go well, and that tendency to be optimistic is a habit that is developed over time. Whereas a pessimist responds to obstacles by withdrawing and underachieving, an optimist will always respond by developing goals, coming up with a strategy, and executing the plan. In summary, optimism is a healthy practice of creating a vision of our desired end results, followed by putting in more effort, which leads to driving ourselves to better outcomes.

To become more persistent, we need to train our optimism. We need to train ourselves to focus on the positives. Your current attitudes are not predetermined or inevitable. The way to change them is to behave the way you’d like to be. In other words, fake it until it becomes the real you. An acquaintance of mine who struggles with optimism decided to keep a log each day and recorded a minimum of three good things that happened to him every day. He found that this exercise really helped him increase his level of optimism.

Optimistic people ask themselves the following questions when dealing with a challenge: “What do I control? What can I do to improve my situation? What can I learn from this experience?” People who are optimistic focus on what they can control, and they don’t allow themselves to slip into helplessness. Optimists persist, and, as a result, they tend to succeed.

Let’s use the example of personal health—something we can all relate to. Optimistic thinking leads to better health because people who think optimistically believe that they can take charge of their health and have a positive impact on it. When a doctor tells us we need to lose weight and exercise more, we can think optimistically by saying to ourselves, “He’s right. I haven’t been eating well or exercising. I’m going to start eating foods that are better for me and working out 4 – 5 times a week.”

Our optimistic thinking directs us to start making positive changes because we believe we control our health. So we set goals, make a plan, and act. As a result, we experience a positive self-fulfilling prophecy.

Now, think about someone you know who is pessimistic and is dealing with health issues. This person receives the same recommendation from the doctor; however, the pessimistic person says to himself or herself, “What’s the point? I never stick to my diets or exercise plans. There’s no sense in trying to change my habits…I’ll just end up quitting in a week!” Pessimistic thinking leads to helplessness, which leads to continued bad eating and further poor health. Unfortunately, this person just created his or her own negative self-fulfilling prophecy.

I’d like to end this post by telling you a true story. On February 19, 1945, a crocodile attack claiming many lives occurred during the Battle of Ramree Island in what is now Burma. Nine hundred Imperial Japanese soldiers, in an attempt to retreat from the Royal Navy and rejoin a larger battalion of Japanese Infantry, were forced to cross 10 miles of mangrove swamps containing thousands of crocodiles. By the next morning, of the original 900, only 19 had succeeded.

We each have mental swamplands to cross on the journey to success—swamplands filled with crocodiles lurking in the forms of pessimism and negative thoughts. These self-limiting beliefs are hungry, always poised to attack your dreams. They will eat your aspirations alive—but only if you let them! Stay optimistic!

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Persistence, Part 2: Establishing the ability to respond to setbacks

Posted on November 25, 2013 by Sean Moore | | 3 Comments

responding to setbacksHistory tells us that Thomas Edison experienced close to 10,000 failures, yet he never thought of himself as a failure. He relished each attempt as an opportunity to learn from his outcomes and apply that new learning going forward.

Edison is the poster child for persistence. He has been quoted as saying, “Many of life’s failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.”

Failure is often used as an excuse or reason to give up easily or not to pursue a goal. Our ability to effectively respond to setbacks demonstrates that we possess persistence and commitment to long-term success. I don’t know about you, but when I have a major setback or problem that arises, it often feels like getting punched in the solar plexus: it’s hard not to be temporarily stunned. This is when the self-limiting questions start… Why me? Why now? And then, self-pity kicks in: woe is me; it’s not fair! 

First of all, we need to accept that failure happens. The most successful people in life have all failed. When faced with a setback, resiliency and the ability to bounce back quickly are crucial to long-term success. We need to understand and expect that things will not go as planned in our lives and in our careers—most certainly, we will all have issues, problems, and setbacks on the way to success.

Avoid quitting at the first sign of difficulty. Anything worth doing or achieving is going to involve hurdles and difficulties. If you don’t succeed at first, try it again and again. If you don’t get the sale or outcome you are looking for, don’t take the first few rejections to mean that it’s never going to happen. This is a self-limiting belief, and, assuming that your strategy or goal is right, it could be that you are not trying enough times. All too often, we quit right before our breakthrough happens. Legendary speaker Les Brown says, “It’s not over until you win!” That hunger must drive you past your naysayers, challenges, negative thoughts, and—most important—your setbacks!

If you’ve already tried to persist at length with your original strategy but find your desired outcomes are eluding you, examine the underlying causes that might be leading you to failure. “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again but expecting different results.” (attributed to Albert Einstein)

You may need to tweak your approach. Perhaps your sales pitch needs refining, or maybe your account strategy needs adjusting. Are you asking your customers the right questions? Stop and assess the things you’re doing to reach your goal; it is often not the goal at fault but the methodology being employed. Also, don’t be afraid of constructive criticism regarding how to improve––seek out your peers, mentors, and managers. Give yourself an honest assessment of your methods and strategies.

Finally, constantly visualize the end result in your mind. We need to mentally prepare ourselves for when the tough times arrive, because, trust me, they will! Any goal worth achieving should be challenging and should be hard! When the going gets tough and you just want to give up, restore your sense of purpose by remembering your vision and your goal. Visualize the end results you want to achieve, making sure you envision yourself claiming that success. You deserve your vision’s materialization, so keep reminding yourself of that as you put in the effort toward your goal.

Let’s live a life with no regrets. One of my favorite authors, Jim Rohn, puts it perfectly: “The worst thing one can do is not to try, to be aware of what one wants and not give in to it, to spend years in silent hurt wondering if something could have materialized – never knowing.”

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Why Persistence?

Posted on November 18, 2013 by Sean Moore | | 4 Comments

Persistance trunk“Persistence is to the character of man as carbon is to steel.” – Napoleon Hill

At its roots, persistence is self-discipline in action. The ability to persist through all setbacks in our careers and lives is essential to long-term success. A person’s continued success versus constant failure stems from the amount of persistence exhibited. The application of persistence to any task or goal is often what distinguishes between those who are successful and those who fail in any endeavor.

Self-discipline and persistence are directly linked to one another. 

Every time we discipline ourselves to do what we know we should do—whether we feel like it or not—we always feel good afterward, and we increase our self-esteem. Think about the last time you worked out even though you really didn’t feel like it. Remember how you felt after you finished? Or, what about that last sales call late in the day, when you just wanted to go home—but instead you ended up getting in front of that key surgeon who would help move your business forward? You can’t help but feel good about yourself when you persist.

When you condition yourself through discipline to always persist through any challenge, you continuously reinforce your resiliency; in effect, you become stronger and stronger through every challenge to the point that you will become unstoppable!

There is always a reward for persisting through a difficult time or task. In and of itself, persistence is a huge reward. Every time you persist through a difficult challenge, you not only feel better about yourself, but you also feel in control of your life and its challenging situations. You start living and breathing a true winning attitude—an attitude that says, “Under no circumstances will I ever quit because winners never quit!”

Pursuing anything worthwhile in life must have an element of persistence, and the only way to become persistent is to develop and discipline ourselves with good habits.

While I’m still exploring this subject of persistence in my own life, I have some firm beliefs. One belief I embrace wholeheartedly is this: successful people realize there will be trials and tribulations along the way. They recognize that there aren’t any shortcuts to success and that the road will be infinitely winding. They know that success can be found by embracing their failures and never giving up on their dreams.

Think about it: in all great success stories, we see those we originally doubted, those we initially overlooked, and those we grossly underestimated. Yet in those very same stories, we also see individuals who never gave up, kept pursuing their dreams, and ultimately achieved their goals.

We need to keep striving, keep dreaming, and keep reaching. For those of us who want it badly enough, giving up isn’t an option. The difference between people who accomplish their goals and those who don’t is simple persistence! Reaching any goal entails overcoming obstacles, but every goal, no matter how daunting, will be attainable if you just keep working at it, doing the right things at the right time.

It’s easy to get discouraged when you constantly strive to achieve something and it doesn’t work out. If you observe those who are passionately achieving what they set out to do, their persistence is glaringly evident. As Dale Carnegie said, “Flaming enthusiasm, backed up by horse sense and persistence, is the quality that most frequently makes for success.” 

In the weeks ahead, I would like to study some topics related to persistence in our lives and careers:

  • Establishing the ability to respond to setbacks
  • Exploring optimism as it relates to resilience
  • Cultivating a proactive attitude versus a reactive one
  • Looking for the gift in challenges
  • Resolving in advance to act

I will leave you with the thoughts of Calvin Coolidge on persistence:

“Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent.”

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No Excuses, Part 2

Posted on November 11, 2013 by Sean Moore | | Leave a comment

No Excuses Part 2Last week we discussed the importance of not making excuses. Everyone has issues, and everyone can find numerous excuses not to prosper. But we need to understand that excuses never improve any situation. We’ve all found ourselves making excuses at some point in our lives.

You have a myriad of choices in life, so you’re certainly entitled to choose finding excuses for yourself and blaming other people. Or, you can show your willingness to change by eliminating the excuse-making habit. It takes time and effort to change a habit, but the end result will be worth it. The solution lies entirely within your own control. You are the only one who can turn things around and achieve the goals you set. Stop blaming and start doing.

Here are three ways to eliminate the excuses that are holding you back:

1. Find the root cause of your excuses.

Excuses are an avoidance tactic. Sometimes we come up with ways to explain away our limitations. Usually, the excuse you’re using is never the real reason why you “can’t” accomplish something. Acknowledge the excuse by asking yourself, “What concerns me most about doing this and why?” Your answer to this question will help you understand what is preventing you from taking action.

Your negative belief system may be at the root of your excuses. For example, imagine you were using Altrus in a specific procedure but did not achieve the desired outcome. You might then create a negative belief system which says that Altrus is not applicable for those types of procedures. If you announce this new negative belief system to colleagues, eventually you’ll find someone who will reinforce this belief with his or her own negative experiences. And, before you know it, you’ll stop promoting Altrus for those specific procedures because of your excuse (stemming from fear) that Altrus doesn’t work in those situations.  Yet, in another part of the country, there is a salesperson experiencing great success with Altrus in that particular type of procedure!

Here’s the thing: negative belief systems are merely learned, and they can be substituted with a new positive belief system. To do this, we must question the validity of the negative belief system by asking ourselves honest questions. In the Altrus example: “Have I ever had success with Altrus before? Has anyone I know ever had success with Altrus in this type of procedure? What would I need to do to have that level of success?”

By asking good questions, we force ourselves to come up with positive counterstatements to back up a positive belief system. To reinforce your new positive belief system, you may need to use education to go beyond the excuse.

2. Mind the company you keep and avoid other excuse makers.

Have you ever wondered why birds of a feather flock together? Eagles fly with eagles, and turkeys…well, they don’t fly well at all…hang with other turkeys. Renowned business philosopher Jim Rohn researched the “Law of Associations,” which suggests we are all a direct reflection of the five people we associate with the most. The way we walk, talk, think, dress, make money, manage our health, accomplish goals, and develop values will mirror those five people. If the five people you most closely affiliate with have negative philosophies, it’s unlikely you will have a positive one.

Are your relationships with close colleagues permeated by themes of blame and disempowerment—or do they project themes of responsibility, self-reflection, and empowerment?

If the five people you are around the most constantly complain, blame others, make excuses, and act in a negative manner, what is the likelihood you will stay on the upward swing of success? You already know the answer—not a high likelihood at all.

My point is this: we need to be acutely aware of the company we keep. Observe those you “flock with”—where are they headed? Where do you want to be headed? Are the people around you more successful than you? Are they people you aspire to be, with the kind of life you want? Are they living on the upward or downward swing of success? Maybe it’s time to reevaluate the company you keep.

3. Live with a “no excuses” attitude.

As an author who writes about overcoming fear, Susan Jeffers says, “Feel the fear…and do it anyway.” Recognize the excuses you’re making, own up to them, and do what you want to do, regardless of what you think is holding you back. Yes, it’s a lot easier said than done, but it’s one thing to say you have control of your life and another to actually take control. Building these habits is difficult—sometimes painful in the moment—but, afterward, you will feel refreshed and indescribably proud of yourself.

Sure, external circumstances might have put you at a disadvantage. But you have the choice to either succumb to circumstances or rise above them. To stop making excuses, you have to forget about the cards you’ve been dealt in life and make the most of what you do have. You can complain about a terrible hand, or you can do something about it. You are the only one who can improve yourself. No one else is going to do it for you.

What excuses have you been making?

What choices will you make this week to stop making excuses and start acting?

Remember—we aren’t perfect, and we do make mistakes. But nothing is ever accomplished through excuses.

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Your “Can Do” Attitude, Part 2

Posted on October 28, 2013 by Sean Moore | | Leave a comment

yes you canLast week we discussed the importance of having a “can do” attitude. To summarize last week’s post, when it comes to being successful, there are two types of people—those who believe they can and those who believe they cannot. The people in the first group always generate ideas and ways to achieve their goals, while those in the second group will offer only excuses for why the possible is really “impossible.” The “I can’t” folks remain in a state of continuous frustration and are always physically and emotionally drained.

You might be wondering how to move from an “I can’t” attitude to a “can do” mentality. Here are three ways to instill and foster a “can do” attitude in your personal life and in your career:

1. Pick something you want to accomplish and tell all your friends, colleagues, and family what you intend to do.

It’s amazing how motivated you will be to get something done once you’ve said it out loud. For example, several months ago I ran a marathon, and when I made the decision at the end of 2012 to run this race as one of my 2013 goals, I told all my friends, people at work, and family members what I intended to do. I even took it one step further when I shared the news on my social media networks and blogged about my goal. I loved it when people would ask me how my training was going, for I was able to talk about both the triumphs and the challenges of the journey. Sharing my goals kept me focused on the end result and allowed me to complete my training plan, run the race, and finish well!

2. Whenever a problem is identified, never end a meeting or conversation without proposing some sort of solution.

This can be difficult and may seem even impractical. What happens when you force yourself and others to come up with a potential solution? You use the right side of your brain, where you access your creativeness. In relentlessly searching for at least one potential solution, you’ll be surprised—once that first solution is proposed, many more will follow. Try it the next time you face a problem or are in a team meeting with a difficult challenge in front of you. I guarantee you will be pleasantly surprised!

3. Spend more time acknowledging and celebrating accomplishments, big and small, that both you and the people around you achieve.

In other words, catch yourself and others doing things right! This is one of the easiest things to do, yet is the most overlooked. We often have a tendency to easily recognize the bad. A few years ago, I tipped the scales at 225 pounds, and I’m embarrassed to admit that, according to the American Heart Association, I had a body mass index of 30.5 and had crossed over into the obese category. For years, I slowly put on the weight and then struggled to lose it again. I worked out regularly and tried to eat healthily. I was often extremely hard on myself when I would slip up in my workouts or eating habits. I rarely celebrated when I chose to eat a healthy meal or forced myself out of bed early in the morning to get to the gym. 

In 2011, I decided that I needed to make some big changes. I wanted to try something different. So I skipped the fad diets and the gimmicky infomercial exercise programs and purchased a $3 phone app along with a $50 membership to My Plate by LIVESTRONG. This program was simple to use; I just entered my current weight and goals, tracked my exercise and calories, and repeatedly celebrated my accomplishments! 

Celebrating every milestone kept me focused on the end goal and helped me maintain my “can do” attitude. In the end, I lost 50 pounds and, for the most part, have kept the weight off over the last three years.      

Yes, our world today is challenging. Our business and personal lives are complex, and we can often feel like there are more problems than answers. It can be so easy to fall victim to problems and to obsess about the challenges we face, making all things more difficult as we strive to find our way. Empowering others and ourselves, however, gives us the freedom to try new things, to take risks, and to learn.

I believe empowering ourselves into the “can do” state starts by getting into action. Being part of the solution instead of focusing on the problem will contribute to your ability to achieve your goals. These three basic steps of saying it, solving it, and celebrating it can be the best way to fertilize your “can do” attitude!

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