“When we are no longer able to change a situation – we are challenges to change ourselves.” – Viktor Frankl

I once was coaching a young man who wanted so badly to start his own business. He tried sales, direct marketing, multi-level marketing, home improvements, health products and about a dozen others opportunities. Each time he started with enthusiasm and certainty and ended in defeat and discouragement. Each time he would ask, “What am I doing wrong?” and each time I would challenge him to find out what it was. I knew well what his problem was but my telling him would gain him nothing; he had to discovery it for himself.

It was not the products, they were all good quality and useful. It was not the marketing styles, they too were sound. The problem with Bob (not his name) was Bob. Bob was lazy when it came to the actual work and a quitter when things got hard. Bob always felt that Bob knew best and approached each venture the same way and would not consider changing. We are all familiar with the Albert Einstein quote: “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.” If anyone wants to see change they must first change the one thing they have the power over, themselves.

There are many Success-Minded People who find that they tend to face the same problems every time they try something new. In their hearts and minds they really want this to work but they just can’t seem to get past the same old road blocks. Here are a few things that may help:

First: Be clear on what you want. To say that you want your own business is not a goal. What kind of business do you want? Do you have the skill sets and talents to do this business? Where do you want the business? Who are you customers? Write this all down and have a clear vision of what you are doing.

Second: What are you willing to pay to achieve your desired goal? Everything has a price tag. How much time will you invest? What do you need in way of training or schooling? How hard will you work and for how long? This all must be decided before you start so you do not have to make this decision when you are discouraged and things get hard.

Third: Get started. Author Hollis Vaughn said, “A ship’s rudder gives direction while the vessel is in motion, not while it sits in the port.” If you want to move in the direction of success…start moving. If you wait for things to be right you will wait forever. Do not expect to have all the answers and know what is ahead before you get going. That never happens! We Success-Minded People learn as we go. There is no journey if you are waiting to get to the destination.

Forth: (and last) Never, never give up. No matter what challenges you face or how hard it gets, if you know what your dream is do not give it up. You will face times of adjustments along the way, so change when you have to. Kerry Randall said, “Contrary to popular opinion, life does not get better by chance. Life gets better by change. And this change always takes place inside; it is the change of thought that creates the better life.”

Change is not an enemy or something to fear. Change is good and we all make many changes during our life time. The trick is to make the right changes for the right reasons. This is why you must know where you are going, how much you will pay for your dream and get started. Just to do that is making major changes for most people. Remember this simple but helpful saying: “Change is our friend!”

© 2011 John Patrick Hickey