Great People Works

It is no surprise that there are people in this world who have the talent and desire to succeed but continually hold themselves back. Recently, I met someone with amazing talent, an actress, who had given up a rising career in order to have a family. Then, when her family was grown and she finally had time to return to her dream career she found it difficult to pursue and attributed her hesitancy to her need to be available for her husband. Each time she talked about her efforts to restart her career she listed various reasons or problems she had encountered that were holding her back. To an objective outsider, however, these sounded more like rationalizations or excuses instead of real reasons. For some reason, she was afraid to risk success or failure.  Perhaps some people would rather not succeed in order to carry the idea that they could have succeeded if things were different, or maybe they are simply to afraid to try success since there is always the chance they will fail. Maybe they fear that success will bring other changes in their life and yes, no doubt it will. Generally, however, those who persevere, succeed if for no other reason than their perseverance.  

The whole idea behind life coaching is to help people understand their values and set SMARTER goals based on those values, then remove roadblocks and barriers such as habits, attitudes and feelings that get in the way of their success, while also teaching them new tools and techniques to enable them to exceed their own expectations..   By continually trying to achieve their goal, people put themselves in places where good things happen, call it luck, fate, a blessing or whatever, but if you aren't even willing to risk being in the right place at the right time, your chances of success are much less. It's like hoping to win the Lottery but not buying tickets.

If you want to climb to the top of Longs Peak in the Colorado Rockies, one of the 14.500 foot peaks, you must plan your trip and hike. Most people start the hike at 10,000 feet at 2AM with flashlights. After hours of walking zigzag along the trail you must climb over a boulder field full of rocks as big as a bunch of backyard storage buildings, then climb up and through the "keyhole", a narrow portal to a cliff that exposes the valley and the mountain range beyond.   At this point, many people give up going the last 1500 feet or so to the summit. There are 5 sections remaining. "The Ledges" where careful navigation is important, a steep ascent up "The Trough" to the crux move known as "The Notch." Then you will have to pass 'The Narrows." Many people turn back here as this ledge is narrow, exposed, and slick. After that it's another steep scramble up more slick rock in "The Homestretch." The summit appears abruptly.  There is often ice on these ledges even in July.

This is just like life and the pursuit of your dreams. It requires goal-setting and planning and perserverance, but it's also lots of fun and an exhilarating experience.    You must work at a steady pace in pursuit of your goal and overcome a variety of barriers on your way. You must reassure yourself as you go because instead of getting easier as you rise towards the top it gets more difficult and the air gets thinner.  It requires stamina and courage. You must nourish and hydrate yourself along the way, congratulating yourself for your progress, removing layers of clothing, only to replace them later, and consuming lots of water and snapping a few pictures. Oh, and don't let the four young guys who practically run past you on the trail up the mountain slow you down, especially when you see them in the distance an hour or so later rapelling down the side of the mountain and then when they pass you a second time on the trail running back up to the top to do it again. Some people will be naturally gifted at doing this and more acclimated to the high altitude.  When people do make it to the summit they must leave about noon or risk lightning and storms in the afternoons. This is much like life. Being at the top of success.  It  is usually a transitory thing. We might hover near the top for a long time, but staying on top is fleeting. The real value, like the hike up Longs Peak, is not in the breathtaking view from the summit which is like staniding on top of the world, but in the hike itself, the pictures you took along the way and the fact that you did what only a few of the people in the world will ever do. When you try to succeed, remain steadfast and determined to succeeed, in your own way you will, but first you have to try and that starts with goals.

Call me to discuss Executive or Life Coaching or to book me as a speaker for your company or group.  I'm also available to help plan successful team-building and team-strengthening events.  Phone:  972-221-3504 or Email me.